New phase for ‘Fatal Four’ young driver campaign

Two firefighters have created a large piece of graffiti on a wall at a fire station in Leicester as part of a campaign to reduce the number of casualties among the area’s young drivers.

The graffiti style mural which depicts the dangers of ‘The Fatal Four’ is part of the campaign of the same name which was launched by Leciestershire Fire & Rescue Service (FRS) in September 2014.

The Fatal Four, which highlights the “four biggest dangers whilst driving”, is delivered to young drivers across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland using a car-crash simulator and the campaign website.

The website offers a range of free resources such as fact sheets and “hard-hitting” videos, including conversations between a bereaved mother and a convicted young driver who was at the wheel when her son died.

Leicestershire FRS says the resources have been designed to offer educators “the best and most influential road safety material when teaching students between the ages of 15 and 19 years”.

Hundreds of images were taken while the mural was being created and from these a time-lapse film was produced to launch Leicestershire FRS’s YouTube channel.

Andy Galway, station manager for Western Fire and Rescue Station, said: “We hope this innovative way of promoting The Fatal Four will help reduce the number of young drivers who die on our roads each year from drink and drugs, using their mobile devices, speeding and not wearing seatbelts.”

This is the second time the two firefighters – Richard Curtis and Ainsley Burton – have produced street art for the station to highlight the Fatal Four. Their first board was created in November 2014.

Paul Speight, watch manager for road safety at Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Several thousand motorists will see these messages each day, and with their vibrant colours and unique eye catching look we hope those driving past will get the message we’re trying to get across.

“We will be looking at utilising blank hoarding boards around Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to paint new designs and keep making these valuable safety messages a talking point.”