- Soldiers at the Duke of Gloucester Barracks took part in anti-drink driving workshop
- Since 1984 there have been 1864 military personnel killed in road traffic accidents
- Firefighters, police officers and Road Safety specialists addressed the audience
- Soldiers received the presentation to keep them safe on the roads before going home for Christmas
When the soldiers of 29 Regiment were told they were getting wrecked before going on leave, they might have had something completely different in mind.
In the event, the command had nothing to do with over indulging before Christmas. It was all to do with keeping them safe on the roads.
‘Wrecked workshops’ are designed by the Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership (RSP). Thousands of secondary school students and other young people have already received the presentations.
Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl, who has made safe and social driving a priority, said:“Soldiers are just as much at risk on the roads as other new and novice drivers. Since 1984, there have been 1864 military personnel killed in road traffic accidents, which works out at more than one a week.
“I’m pleased that safe and social driving initiatives are now being offered to localised army barracks and that the road safety partnership will continue to support the army in facilitating their desired approach to ‘hard hitting’ road safety interventions”.
Occupational road safety is one of the PCC’s Police and Crime Plan targets. As well as schools, the RSP works with a range of local businesses to highlight the dangers of driving under the influence of drink and drugs. The armed forces are no different and there was standing room only for the latest presentation at the Duke of Gloucester Barracks at South Cerney.
Firefighters and police officers join the discussion to illustrate the serious impact on lives including 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; the ‘morning after’ drink driving and how to calculate a unit of alcohol.
RSP Education Officer Louise White said, “The Wrecked team educates its audiences on the dangers of drink and drug driving in a way that is engaging and interactive, whilst still relaying the harsh realities.
“The Regiment asked us to deliver the session just before they went on ‘stand down’ for Christmas. It wanted it on the last day so the soldiers had a clear message to go home to their families with”.
