Banbridge Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) has obtained funding to deliver special sessions for local young drivers in the Banbridge District. The ‘Enhanced YPAD’ events are specifically for students in Years 13 and 14, and are based around a live extrication demonstration undertaken by the NI Fire and Rescue Service. Speaking on behalf of Banbridge PCSP, the Vice-Chair Mr Jonathan Murphy, commented, “The PCSP has secured this additional funding to enable partners agencies to work together to show local young drivers first-hand what can be the result of apparently harmless distractions whilst driving – such as looking at your mobile phone.
A local team from the NI Fire and Rescue Service performed a live extrication of a casualty from a crashed car at New-Bridge Integrated Collge. The students had the opportunity to talk to officers from the NIFRS, the PSNI Road Policing and local Neighbourhood officers about their personal experiences of dealing with serious and fatal road traffic collisions.”
He continued, “We greatly appreciate the co-operation New-Bridge Integrated College. The PCSP would encourage all young drivers to make an on-line pledge to the DOE Road to Zero campaign.
Mrs Anderson,Principal concluded ‘ the College is very grateful to the PCSP for arranging a demonstration on this scale in the College which afforded all our 6th Form students the opportunity to view. It is important that we do everything in our power to educate our young people regarding the dangers that can occur when driving. The demonstration was extremely beneficial and educational and we would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in this event and in particular the emergency services for giving of their valuable time.
Any organisation can support the DOE Road to Zero campaign by encouraging members or employees to pledge and adopt safer behaviours on the roads by visiting www.sharetheroadtozero.com.
NIFRS extrication crew from Banbridge station; sixth form students from New-Bridge Integrated College; Helen Coop, Banbridge District Council Community Safety Warden; Constable Gill Hoyle, PSNI Banbridge Neighbourhood Team
For further information, please contact the PCSP Manager Amanda Mulholland, on 028 4062 0245, or email: amanda.mulholland@banbridge.gov.uk