Emergency services, public services students and media students worked together to highlight the consequences of dangerous driving last week.
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, along with Derbyshire Police and our public services students set up a road traffic accident simulation on Infirmary Road outside college. The realistic event demonstrated how driving whilst under the influence of alcohol, drugs or whilst distracted can lead to catastrophic results.
The simulation
A car and motorcycle from our vehicle accident repair department were used to highlight what happens in a collision. In this case the imaginary motorcyclist, was killed. Two public services students volunteered to be the driver of the car and the passenger. In the simulation, the driver was arrested and the passenger was cut out of the vehicle because of serious injuries.
Students from different courses watched the event unfold as the fire service arrived on scene and carried out the rescue operation. Media students and live streamed the event to other students watching in college. In addition, they are creating a road safety film to be used in college in the future.
Long term consequences of dangerous driving
Station manager, Ian Snodgrass, from Derbyshire Fire & Rescue service said:
“We’re here today to highlight the consequences of drink and drug driving or driving whilst using a mobile phone for example. The interactive part of the demonstration is really important to open people’s eyes to what is involved in responding to this type of incident. It isn’t just about what happens on the day of the accident though. It is the consequences that are important to get across. Here we have a fatality, a seriously injured passenger and someone who has been arrested for causing death by dangerous driving. In a real situation that would impact on lots of lives for a long time.”
Knowledge and experience for the future
Alongside the important road safety message, the simulation gave students the chance to practice skills they will need in their future careers. Before the event we asked some of the public service students involved to tell us about their role in the simulation and why it was important for them to take part.
Freddie Corcoran, who played the injured passenger role said:
“We haven’t been told what to expect because they want it to be a realistic experience for us. We wouldn’t know what was happening if we were involved in a real accident. The officers will explain as they carry out the rescue; as if we were real casualties”
Jess Roper, public services student and volunteer driver in the simulation said:
“I want to join the police after college. I will have to deal with these situations when I am working with them so it will give me some good knowledge for the future.”
Joshua Marples, who was involved with marshalling the simulation area said:
“It is really good practice. A lot of us want to join the emergency services and these accidents are quite common. It’s good training to help us know what we would be doing in these kind of situations before we join.”
First hand experiences
Deborah Thompson, Public Services Tutor at Chesterfield College explained why it was so important for students to get involved in activities like the road traffic accident simulation:
“A lot of the units we study on the public services courses are about responding to emergencies or major incidents. We work closely with the different uniform services so students can get real life experiences in the services that they want to work in. First hand experiences count for so much. It is fantastic that so many different departments from across college are involved this year too. It makes it a whole college event that so many people can benefit from.”