- Almost 11,000 students, aged 16-19 years, have benefitted since ‘Wrecked’ workshops were introduced
- 25 of the 26 sixth forms delivering state funded education in Gloucestershire will have been ‘Wrecked’ by the end of this academic year
- Many schools have already signed up for next year
- ‘Wrecked’ presenters highly praised for how they engage with students
It is a lesson people who work tirelessly to make Gloucestershire’s roads safer hope will stay with students the rest of their lives.
It destroyed the myth for any who thought it cool to drink and drive – and hammered home the consequences for those who do, and get caught.
More and more students aged 16 and over at schools, colleges and other training organisations around the county are being taught the dangers of driving under the influence of drink and drugs at a series of ‘Wrecked’ workshops.
Almost 11,000 students, aged 16-19 years, have benefitted since the workshops were introduced eighteen months ago. The following breakdown shows how it has caught on
- 25 of the 26 sixth forms delivering state funded education in Gloucestershire will have had ‘Wrecked’ by the end of this academic year
- Seven of the eight further and higher education colleges will get ‘Wrecked’ this year
- Five of the 14 independent deliverers of post 16 education will get ‘Wrecked’ this year
- Four post 16 training organisations will get ‘Wrecked’ this year
- In this school year alone 5000 students have learned about the dangers and consequences of drink and drug driving
Tom Shaw of Forest Sports Education said, “The workshop had a positive effect on all of my students. They all really enjoyed the talks and the message that they send out has really hit home!
“Being based in a rural area I feel that this topic is extremely important to cover whilst students are in FE and I couldn’t thank the guys from the Wrecked Workshop enough for what they do. They engage with the students tremendously well”.
Wrecked presenters L-R: Safe and Social Driving Co-ordinator Louise White, Sgt Pete Godwin and Glos Fire and Rescue Service Watch Manager Iain Robertson
Ian Britten, Newent Community School and Sixth Form Centre said, “What a great morning. The kids absolutely loved it. I will definitely book again for next year”.
‘Wrecked workshops’ were designed by the Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) with the support of Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl. Improving road safety and helping young people become responsible adults are two of the priorities of the PCC’s policing strategy.
Mr. Surl said, “These wrecked workshops exorcise many of the myths about drink and drug driving and will help to keep our young people safer in future.
“Some still think it’s cool and were unaware of the implications – that not only does it threaten your life and those of any passengers, but also that you can’t travel to America if getting caught for drinking and driving is on your record.
“There is always a temptation, at any age, to take a risk. The earlier we can reverse that trend by highlighting the pitfalls the better”.
Each ‘Wrecked’ session is an hour long and free to all schools and colleges with children aged 16 or over. Firefighters and police officers join road safety education experts to discuss the issue and the serious impact on lives. Key messages include the personal and emotional consequences of being involved in a crash after drinking or taking drugs; the law and enforcement; the social and long term impact that a drink drive conviction can have, as well as ‘morning after’ drink driving and how to calculate a unit of alcohol.
If you would like to take part, contact Safe and Social Driving Co-ordinator Louise White on 01452 888780 or by emailing louise.white@glosfire.gov.uk
To find out more about the Summer anti-drink drug campaign which is now underway, go to www.roadsafety-gloucestershire.org.uk
