| Play drives home road safety message | |
|  | | Gary and Sharon in "The Buzz" |
| | Schools in Devon have teamed up with a leading theatre group, in a bid to cut the number of road accidents involving young drivers. |
| | | A hard hitting drama showing the dangers of bad driving is going into schools and colleges in Devon.
London-based theatre group Box Clever are visiting nine schools and colleges in Devon in December, to perform a play called "The Buzz."
The play is aimed at young people aged 16-18, who have just started to learn how to drive or are about to.
 | | Speeding starts off as a lark for Sharon and Gary... |
In the drama, Gary is 18 and drives his mum's Mini Metro. He and his girlfriend Sharon love going fast...but The Buzz dramatically shows the impact that speed has on young lives.
Box Clever is a registered charity, and their plays cover social issues affecting young people.
They have been brought to Devon by the county council and will be performing to more than 1,000 students at the nine schools.
County council road safety officer Michael Newcombe explained: "We ran the presentation two years ago and the feeback was cracking. That's what has prompted us to do it again.
 | | ...but it all ends badly |
"Quite often, young drivers don't have the skills to handle situations they get in and think 'it's not going to happen to me.'
"We want them to get good driving habits before they get behind the wheel and 16 is a good age for them to learn."
Figures show that young people are involved in a disproportionately high number of car accidents.
While only 4.4% of car licence holders are aged 17-21, this age group is involved in 13% of road accidents - some 2,400 each year. Department of Transport research shows that speed is often to blame.
"Driver education and awareness are essential if we are to reduce accidents involving younger people," said Mr Newcombe.
The schools and colleges to benefit this month are Queen Elizabeth Community College; Bideford College; Ilfracombe College; Priory High School, Exeter; Great Torrington Community School; Ivybridge Community College; Teignmouth Community College, Okehampton College and Kingsbridge Community College.
There are hopes that Box Clever can return to the county in the future, to spread the 'drive safely' message even further.
Article written: 2nd December 2004.
| | | |
|
|
| E-cards |  | | Send an e-postcard of glorious Devon to a friend. |
BBC Devon
Broadcasting House
Seymour Road
Plymouth
PL3 5BD
(+44) 01752 229201
devon.online@bbc.co.uk
|
|
