Hundreds of students watched firefighters free a car crash “victim” from the wreckage of a car last night (Thursday, Sept 28) in a dramatic road safety education event.
The demonstration in front of students aged 18 to 25 was staged at Harper Adams University’s main Newport campus by firefighters from Newport fire station.
Firefighter Martin Richardson provided watching students with a live commentary as a team of firefighters used cutting equipment to free student volunteer “casualty” Amy Brough from a wrecked car in a dramatic illustration of what happens in the aftermath of a real road crash. The demonstration was held to coincide with the university’s “Freshers’ Week.”
“I explained what was happening as firefighters cut Matt from the car and went through some of the main causes of accidents involving young drivers and what they can do to avoid them,” Martin Richardson said.
Firefighter Richardson told watching students that speeding, the misuse of alcohol and drugs, peer pressure, using mobile phones while driving and poor car maintenance were the main factors behind the high number of crashes among people, especially men, aged between 17 to 29.
“The main aim of the demonstration was to bring home to the watching students that many of the road crashes we attend involve their age group.
“A car can be a killing machine and we want to encourage young drivers to drive safely and remember that they are responsible for the lives of their passengers,” Firefighter Richardson said.
After her “rescue” Amy said: "I just hope it never happens for real, the firefighters did a lot to keep me calm and explained everything that was happening"
