EMERGENCY services captivated the attention of more than 150 teenagers to encourage them to drive safely on the county’s roads.

Pupils from Queen Elizabeth Grammar School (QEGS) in Penrith and Appleby Grammar School attended the first Safe Drive, Stay Alive event at the Rheged Centre near Penrith yesterday.

They heard first-hand accounts from frontline members of the police, fire and rescue, plus the North West Ambulance Service, about what they deal with when they attend serious and fatal road traffic crashes.

Although these incidents are rare, the eye-opening experience provided an insight for the dozens of teenagers - many of whom will currently be learning to drive, or are about to take up driving lessons.

The first event of its kind to launch in the county follows success in Lancashire.

The campaign is aimed at helping young people understand the importance of driving safely - including the consequences if they ignore the advice.

Steve Minnikin, mobile support group inspector at Cumbria Police, said: “Our presentation involved a few forces, including Lancashire.

“Rather than it being an event from us telling people how to drive, it is aimed at revealing to the public exactly where the impacts of a fatal or serious road traffic injury collision, and how it is so traumatic, stressful, and genuinely horrible when you have got to deal with that - not just from a police perspective, but also from the ambulance and fire service.

“More importantly, it looks at the impact on the family, and what we’re trying to show people - especially young adults - because they are the ones who really need to be on the receiving end of this message.”

Following the vital safety event, Steve added the force has plans to work with partners again in the future to help spread the message across the county.

“Our message that we want to spread to everyone is: ‘Think twice with what you’re doing, watch your speed, don’t use your mobile phone, and be aware of the influence of drink or drugs’.

“As we continue to spread the word on this, are aim is to reduce the number of these incidents, and have fewer deaths on our roads.

“There will always be, sadly, some fatalities on the roads in some way, we can’t stop it completely, but we want to try and stop it as much as we possibly can.

“As a force, we can’t stress to young drivers enough just how big the impact of a serious or fatal crash will have.

“It goes from the menial side of financial aspects to the emotional side.”

Those on the frontline, including Steve, spoke also openly about how tragic incidents affected them.

“Of all of those teenagers who attended the safety awareness event, if there were any who weren’t affected by it, I’d be amazed.

“I’ve seen it a few times now and I still well up when I hear one family discuss the death of their son.

“It was a motorcyclist like I am, and his first bike was similar to one I’d had, and it really gets to me.”

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria Peter McCall was among the many who also attended the presentation at Rheged.

He added: “Safe Drive, Stay Alive was hard hitting, heartfelt, personal and extremely impactful.

“None of us think we will be involved in an accident and it is too easy to think it won’t happen to us.

“I hope the real life tragic accounts given from the fire and rescue service, family liaison officer, North West Ambulance Service and bereaved family members will make the sixth form students from Appleby and Penrith think carefully in the future.

“Some of the presenters asked some incredibly thought provoking questions - how would you feel if you were responsible for killing a friend, partner or family member? Maybe reading that text was not as important as you thought? Can you imagine living with the knowledge that your driving had caused a death?

“Raising awareness, with a clear message Safe Drive, Stay Alive is essential – dangerous driving is real, it’s local and it’s what matters to us.

“Taking time to think carefully about the consequences of our actions when behind the wheel is vital.”