Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service Cadets have won a national award from Brake for producing a series of road safety films.
Brake’s 2young2die awards encourage young people to use their creativity to promote road safety messages to their peers and the wider community.
This year’s winning entry is a series of three short films researched, scripted and produced by teams of fire service cadets from Congleton, Sandbach and Runcorn. The films, on the themes of speeding, drink-driving and seatbelts were developed as part of The Fire Cadet Road Safety Video Project.
The project was set up after the tragic death of Congleton Fire Cadet Hayley Bates in a road crash in September 2010. It is now run annually with the films being used by fire crews in workshops with local schools and colleges throughout the year.
The cadets will be presented with their award at Brake’s annual reception at the Houses of Parliament in January 2014.
Laura Wheelton, fire cadet watch manager at Congleton, says: “Hayley was killed in a road crash because of speed, so it’s something that has affected us personally and that’s why our film focuses on the consequences of speeding.
“We wanted to pass on the message that speeding needs to stop. We’d like to make more films both about road safety and other safety messages. It was a good feeling when we were told that we’d won the 2young2die award. We’re proud that we have been able to turn something that has affected us so deeply into something positive.”
Also highly commended in the awards was Jordan Bone, of Kings Lynn in Norfolk, who at the age of 15 was left paralysed by a crash involving a young driver. With the help of the charity Fixers, Jordan produced a video aimed at encouraging young people not to take risks and exploring the consequences of crashes.
Rich Andrew, senior development officer at Brake, says: “Young drivers are involved in one in four serious crashes on our roads, and often young people themselves are the victims. But young people can have a big impact in helping to put a stop to this needless loss of life and terrible suffering.
“The Cheshire Fire Service Cadets and Jordan Bone have shown great dedication to spreading road safety awareness and their powerful messages are reaching a large audience of young people.”
For more information contact Rich Andrew on 01484 550054.
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