The dangers of careless driving

A mock crash scene was held in Bailey Bridge Retail Park in Christchurch, Dorset on 25 February 2010 in order to show drivers the dangers of driving in an anti-social manner. A large crowd gathered to witness what happens in a collision and the way in which it is dealt with by the emergency services.

Vehicle crime advice and road safety advice was given out to those that attended and the event provided members of the local community with the chance to speak to representatives from partner agencies, including the police, local councils, fire and housing.

Dorset Fire and Rescue led the event and were supported by Dorset Police and South Western Ambulance Service. They were joined by GRS Garage Services who supplied suitable vehicles, Jones Lang LaSalle who provided the location, and the Dorset Safety Camera Partnership.

Speeding has been raised at many PACT (Partners and Communities Together) meetings by local residents and is currently a priority in a number of Christchurch Safer Neighbourhood areas.

Two local people Joe Gentle and Dave Brierley played the roles of the casualties in the cars and the evening was very well attended by the residents of Christchurch

PC Glenn Stokes from Portfield & Jumpers Safer Neighbourhood Team said: “There has been an incredible turnout to this event. Thank you to all those people who have been involved in what was an extremely successful extrication exercise.

“Dave was brilliant as our unconscious casualty, who was removed from the vehicle. Joe was breathalysed and played the part of the driver of the blameworthy vehicle, and was subsequently ‘arrested.’”

The event reinforces messages behind the countywide ‘no excuse’ campaign which hopes to make Dorset’s roads and its road users the safest in the region.


Throughout the year, routes with the highest casualty rates in Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole will be targeted on a daily basis. Dorset Police, supported by the Dorset Safety Camera Partnership, will be conducting additional, sustained, high-visibility policing and covert operations in order to crack down on the main types of driving behaviour that are known to result in fatal and serious injuries. Sometimes known as the ‘fatal four,’ these are:
 
Inappropriate speed
Drink and drug driving
Not wearing a seatbelt
Distractions, like using a mobile phone or changing a CD
 
The campaign hopes to make Dorset’s roads and its road users to be the safest in the region.