March 2007
FMG 2007 - a round up of campaign activity
Bournemouth
Bournemouth's road safety team distributed Valentine cards to local pubs and students at Lansdowne College and Sixth Form Centres across Bournemouth.
Bracknell
A mock car accident was staged at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst on 13 February to show young people that thoughtless driving can cost lives.
The reconstruction involved the Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership and the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service who used special cutting equipment to show how a person in a road accident is cut from a vehicle. Young people who attended were also given the campaign Valentine card.
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire's road safety team distributed FMG Valentine cards to educational establishments and other places where young people gather in numbers. And with more places participating and more cards in circulation this year, the team's efforts paid off.
In 2006, 20 educational establishments across the county participated. This year the number increased to 29 - and in all 34 establishments distributed cards in the run up to Valentines Day.
Cambridgeshire
As in previous years, the campaign Valentine card and poster were distributed to educational establishments across the county. This activity was backed by a radio advertising campaign on Q103, and washroom poster advertising in pubs and clubs.
In partnership with the police, fire and ambulance services, the road safety team organised 'cut out' demonstrations at three schools in Huntingdon and Wisbech. FMG key rings, car air fresheners, wristbands and CD cases were handed out to students who attended these events.
The Speed Dating poster was mailed out to pubs, clubs, colleges and sixth forms. |
Cornwall
This was the first time Cornwall's road safety team participated in the FMG campaign.
The 'Speed Dating' poster was mailed out to pubs, clubs, colleges and sixth forms - and on Valentine's Day a press event and photo opportunity took place at Cornwall College, Camborne.
A 'souped up' car with all the latest stereo equipment was also on display - alongside a car that has been involved in a collision, to provide a visual contrast.
Essex
In Essex, the campaign launch took place on 9 February at Harlow College. The road safety team gave out Valentine cards and offered advice to young drivers.
255 red flowers were laid outside the college to represent the number of young drivers or passengers killed or seriously injured on Essex roads in 2006.
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire's road safety team worked in partnership with the Fire Service and North Herts College, to stage a crash reconstruction in Letchworth town centre on the evening of Friday 16 February.
Mayo, Ireland
This was the first time that FMG had been used outside the UK. Noel Gibbons, Mayo County Council’s senior RSO, said: “More than 1000 of these Valentine's cards have been distrubted to the local GMIT, FAS training centre and a local young drivers car club.
Southend
On the evening of Saturday 17 February Southend's road safety team and members of the local fire brigade handed out red roses and information to young drivers in Southend High Street. A Hummer and a Subaru Impreza were used to attract the attention of young people on the evening.
South Gloucestershire
Sixth formers from five secondary schools in South Gloucestershire were given a graphic demonstration of the dangers of speeding when they attended a reconstruction of a car crash rescue operation.
They looked on as fire-fighters cut a trapped casualty from the wreckage of a vehicle in a simulated exercise, which was organised by the South Gloucestershire Council Road Safety Team.
"Made me think of what can happen and made me realise all the things that could have happened to me when I have been out driving with friends," said 16 year old Steph Crane, a student at Patchway Community College.
Suffolk
Suffolk’s road safety team organised a photo opportunity involving services that are part of Suffolk's Roadsafe Partnership'.
Daryl Fraser, Senior RSO, said: "Our colleagues in the Suffolk Roadsafe Partnership agreed to pose for this picture to promote our Valentine's anti-speeding message. Everyone was keen to show young drivers just how many people are involved in attending a road traffic crash and to emphasise the importance of driving within safe limits."
Sussex
The Sussex Safety Camera Partnership (SSCP) staged two FMG events in the county.
In East Sussex, the partnership arranged an extrication demonstration in Hastings on 13 February, with the help of the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. And in West Sussex, there was a display featuring a crashed vehicle in Crawley town centre on 14 February.
SSCP staff were present at both events to hand out red roses to young couples as an extra reminder that they should be thinking about their loved ones at this special time of year - especially if the guys are taking their girlfriends out in their car.
Thurrock
The road safety team organised a crash scene reconstruction involving students being cut out of a crashed vehicle at Palmers College on Friday 9 February. Campaign resources and red roses were distributed to students, and Essex Police, Essex Fire and Rescue and Essex Ambulance were in attendance.
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