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*serious topic*

I'd be very interested to hear others views on this, and also whether this is an issue in your area.

In the last two weeks, within a 30-mile radius of Aberdeen, NINE young people under 25 have been killed on the roads. This is becoming a more common occurrence - and most accidents seem to happen as a result of excessive speed. Yesterday, we took all our S5 pupils (15/16yrs) to a 'safe driving' event organised by the local constabulary - with the intent of reaching them prior to them starting driving..

The event basically highlighted the reasons that so many teenage drivers crashed, all too often fatally, and what they could do to minimise the risks involved. It started on a bit of high, with a local DJ ooomphing up the crowd with shouts of 'where are X Academy? Give us a wave!!!' etc etc, but soon went on to be very hard hitting with the kids leaving in a very contrasting mood.

Basically, the presentation showed the scenario (in video form) of three teenagers getting ready for a night out - then showed them crashing due to high speed/negligence/no seatbelts - and all the emergency services arriving at the scene, hospital etc. The video stopped every so often and the policeman/paramedic/fireman/doctor in A&E from the video then appeared on the stage and spoke about how the crash affected them, and their role in it. It was really really moving. We saw X-Rays from the folk that had been hurt, heard about the car being cut open to release someone that was trapped, and heard from a policeman who had had to tell parents that their child had been killed.

Towards the end of the presentation, a mother who lost her daughter in an accident in April this year spoke - and urged the kids to think carefully before driving others about, and before getting in a car with someone else driving (her daughter had been a passenger when she was killed) At this point I was sobbing my wee heart out for the mum (fortunately it was dark!) - and also thinking, that although I'm not a mother - if ANYTHING happened to any of my kids at school, I'd be heartbroken.

it was a very subdued group that left at the end.

When we were arriving at the place, there was a smart red sporty car sitting outside......but when we left it had been replaced by a burnt out, trashed wreck of a car. I discovered later that it had been the wreck of a crash that happened 10 days ago when a 19 yr-old was killed on the A96.

the whole thing really made me think - even as someone who has driven for over ten years.

as I said, is this a problem in your area - and if so, what is being done about it? I'd just be interested to know...... ta

*it turned out that I knew one of the organisers of the event, and talking to her afterwards she asked me what I had thought of it. When I said that I thought it was really in your face, she said 'I know - but we are at a loss as to what else to do as no one seems to be paying attention to any warnings'*

Sounds like a useful workshop and something like that should be part of the driving test, it's not just young people that cause accidents though.

My friends daughter aged 17 has been driving for several months and had just got her car back from being resprayed / lowered only to have a NINETY year old woman in a volvosmash into it and write it off, apparently if the girl hadnt seen her coming and swerved the passenger (also aged 17) might have been killed she escaped with some nasty injuries but is on the mend!

The woman's excuse "I didnt see you"

that sounds dreadful - I'm glad she's ok though...

please don't think that I meant it was only teenagers that caused accidents - but statistically it seems to be more common (especially round about here)...I know that there are some very sensible teenage drivers out there!

This sounded like it was well worth it. I think so many teenagers think they are unshockable and it does them no harm to see some of the hard facts. Tragic though they are. How brave of the mother to speak about the loss of her child too. I would have no objection to my children going to something like this or equally something as hard hitting about drugs/alcohol if it got the message through to them.

It has been absolutely horrible to hear about all the traffic accidents recently, the other week there were 'seven deaths in seven days' and it just sounds awful.

I know a errrm few people who were at the event Felicity was talking about and apparently it left people in tears. When you get an effective way of putting the message accross it is the best thing ever, my year had a play last week and it really left you thinking.

As I'm in S6 the majority are now 17 and therefore learning to drive and passing their tests - can imagine a lot of them will be very sensible but can imagine others being the exact opposite. Sorry, I gather that wasn't what you were asking for in the replies Felicity but yeah, it's also something I've been thinking about a lot recently and even more so because of what time of the year it is but that's not understandable if you don't know the situation.

She's ok but its put her off driving and she will never be able to claim back for all the modifications she had on the car!

I didnt think that at all sorry if you thought that... I think this would be a good part of the whole driving test experience especially as they now have the theory test they could easily implement a cut down version ie some kind of video into that.

A girl I was at school with was killed when she pulled out in front of a speeding fire engine aged 18, she wasnt driving recklessly she just panicked through inexperience! Some people only have 10 or so lessons (I had about 12 myself) which equates to approx 10 hours experience and then are allowed behind the wheel of a potentially lethal machine at an age when theyre not considered adult enough to even drink!

Incidentally I told my sister-in-law the same story tonight and it's put her off driving which cant be a bad thing she's failed her test 3 times and is about to take a 4th on Thursday I do feel a bit sorry for her as her driving instructor was crap! I made her change to the bloke I had (mind you that was over 11 years ago) and he said she was rubbish and no-where near ready for her test hence the failures! He now thinks she will pass but to be honest someone like her would really benefit from experiencing a seminar like this

That sounds like an excellent seminar to show teenagers - very hardhitting and would stick in your head for ages, hopefully.

It's been the same situation in Somerset recently - at least three young people have been killed in this area in the last couple of weeks, one of them was the stepson of someone I know.
It's such a waste of life.

I feel that it is a good way to actually show them the effects what happens if they are not paying attention to what is going on round about them when they are driving. It also shows them how easy it is for an accident to happen and the distractions that there could be and of course how dangerous it could be for them to speed and not being careful. It should hopefully work so that there is less accidents happening on the roads in the future and hopefully the young people will take into account the dangers that they could face whilst driving.

I say scare them! Young drivers are often cocky and unaware of the risks. My driving has certainly slowed down a lot over the years. However, the most danger is caused by peer pressure/showing off and drink/drugs IMO.

I live on a busy, fast stretch of road which, over about 5 miles, has probably had 10 deaths in 10-15 years and plenty more accidents. A car with three teenagers crashed fatally a few months ago and the shrine at the spot actually causes a distraction to other cars on the same route. Also, the speed camera about a mile away causes people to slow to 40 in a national speed limit area. I know why people slow and I probably would too if I was in their shoes (fear of points and a fine whilst not paying attention to speed limits) but it's annoying for other motorists.

I understand the courses that police arrange for people caught speeding showing graphic evidence of crashes are very effective.

from day one I have always had high powered cars . as a teenager I had 3ltr turbo capri that was outragously powerfull followed by a 2 ltr Triumph Dolomite sprint ..... my point being is dont let them have powerful cars. dont limit the size of the car just of the engine

Oh and i am and always have been a rubish driver,

That sounds like an extremely effective event, Felicity. It's what's needed, but there's always going to be the "it'll never happen to me" thing that goes on.

I passed my test just over a year ago, and it's one of the hardest things a lot of people will do - they certainly don't make it easy to pass these days (although I did pass first time *smirk!*). You certainly have to show you're a careful driver to pass your test - it just all goes out the window for some after then. (I know I've picked up bad habits)

I love driving, but I do often think about how easy it is to be in an accident. I do a lot of motorway driving, and saw 3 accidents in one journey the other week, up the M1 to Sheffield.
I'm not the type to show off when I've got friends in the car, but I can see why a 17 year old male would.

I didn't feel ready to be responsible for a speeding tonne of metal at 17. I passed my test at 20, and only now do I actually feel justifiable to be on the roads!

Unless things have changed you only start learning to drive after you have passed the test.
Learning how to control a car when things go wrong and in slippy conditions should be part of an extended test using skid pad training ,this would help prevent quite a few accidents. A couple of examples. When I took my second test I'd been driving on 'L' plates for seven years and had owned a few cars. On passing my test my first car was a Mini and on the second day I encountered ice for the first time in a front wheel drive car. Basically I turned into a sharp junction which was really a hairpin on to find it covered in ice. And the only reason I just managed to miss the parked car was that I kept my foot on the accelerator and never used the brakes. if I'd used the brakes I would have slid into the parked cars. Now they don't teach you that and I'd expect at least 9 of 10 people to have used the brakes ,though the natural thing is to brake.
The other example I know of was a lad who in the first 6 months had 4 or 5 accidents. The first one again on ice was heading for a 'T' junction too fast braking only to find ice and smashing into the car opposite the junction.
I remember one of the questions at the end was "What do you do in a skid ?". They tell you but you have no experience of how to correctly do it.
We used to use a car park with packed snow to practice on. Figure of 8's for example are still very controllable but it also shows the way different types of drive have to be steered differently a get the same results. I did most of my driving before I got my license in rear-wheel drive cars which I learnt the control in but it was that first encounter with the ice in the front-wheel drive car which could easily have gone wrong. If you have a PS1 and Colin Mcrae Rally try the rally school with both front and rear wheel drive cars and you see what I mean.

I also think that you should have lessons on motorway driving before your allowed to use them. During your lessons you'll get probably some dual carriageway driving but getting on a motorway for the first time where most cars are going 80 plus and you having to keep a good lookout in the inside lane for lorries can be a shock the first time.

I'm not the best driver out there ,I have lost a car when a front tyre deflated mid bend rolling the car. But I'm always trying to be observant .I have driven a couple of competition cars off road so my instincts aren't always the same are most people but most of the time if things get out of shape I can maintain enough control back to avoid and accident.

I have been first on scene of a crash where 3 cars had collided at speed smashing them and trapping the drivers and I can tell you it's not a pretty sight.

I only drive small cars these days and in recent years I haven't had anything capable of high speed so I normally sit around 50 - 55 on the open road when speed limits and conditions allow. Besides the cost of petrol should put people of speed. It's costing me almost £14 a week to do around 90 miles a week. I remember only a few years ago when I could run a car for 2 weeks for less than that !

How do new drivers afford to insure performance cars ? Even a small car is over £1000 to insure. When I was 18 in the mid 80's it only used to cost me £178 for TPFT for a 1800cc car while still on 'L' plates. Think the car was group 4 on the old system.

I know a lot of people find the test difficult but the extra lessons after the main test should reduce the numbers involved in accidents. By all means show the learners / new driver what happens when everything goes wrong or that just act as idiots with their mates. If it makes them stop and think then it's done some good.
It's the same with the Drink - Drive ads. They should be allowed to show the ones that make you stop and think all day long rather than having to wait until the likely offenders have already left for the pubs and clubs.

I'll get off my soap box now.