Dorset Fire and Rescue Service are committed to reducing road traffic collisions, especially amongst young drivers. We aim to achieve this by engaging with young people in our communities.

"Safe Drive Stay Alive" is a powerful and emotional presentation delivered to young people and is based on the real consequences of poor driving behaviour.

The presentation is delivered to students of Sixth Form age (16-19 years). The aim is to target young people who are potentially passengers, have applied for or are applying for a driving license and may own or borrow their own transport.

Delivery is based around a DVD of a group of young people in a car who subsequently are involved in an RTC. The driver has not had a license for very long and is influenced not by drugs or alcohol, but peer pressure.

The successful delivery of this roadshow requires a partnership approach. Organisations key to the presentation are the Police, Fire Service, Ambulance Trust, Primary Care Trusts, Road Safety Partnerships, Local Authorities and road safety charities. Each partner explains at appropriate times in the presentation how Road Traffic Collisions involving children and young people affect their organisation and them personally.

The benefit of this presentation to schools lies not only in it's direct link to "Citizenship" within the National Curriculum, by supporting young people with knowledge, understanding and skills to play an active part in society and influence within their own communities, but also in reducing the number of accidents occurring on our roads.

• Nationally 76% of deaths of 16-19 year olds are caused by road traffic collisions whilst one in three male drives aged 17 and 20 crash in the first two years after passing their tests.
• Research shows that one in five young people got into a car believing that the driver was over the drink drive limit.