成人快手

SPEEDING TEENS

Fast and furious - speeding has disastrous consequences

With 1,200 youngsters killed or seriously injured on Essex's roads each year, road accidents are still the biggest killer of the under 20s.

Authorities in Essex are using shock tactics to push home the message about driving safety". The reason for the change is that a number of different public bodies are behind the drive to warn youngsters of the dangers of speeding.

Meet nineteen-year-old Joe Fletcher.

Ever since he was little, he's always wanted to be a fireman.

But after a road accident last year, his hopes have been cruelly dashed.

Joe was seriously injured after he lost control of his car and crashed into a tree.

He explains, "I left Chelmsford with three of my mates in the car, I think it was about one in the morning.

"I was driving really fast, I was showing off, clocking on about 80 - it was raining as well," he says.

"I ended up hitting an embankment, I couldn't control the car because I was going too fast.

"I hit a tree and that's really all I remember."

A major impact

Speeding almost cost Joe his life

Joe's 'showing off' came at a high price - his car was a write-off and it took the emergency services two hours to cut him free from the wreckage.

His friends escaped without any major injuries, but Joe wasn't so lucky.

The impact of the crash left him with broken bones in his legs and arms, as well as a collapsed lung and massive internal bruising.

It was touch and go as to whether he'd survive - and doctors were worried that even if he pulled through, he'd be left with permanent brain damage.

Fortunately Joe lived to tell the tale, but not without paying the price - his injuries left him unable to pursue his dream of becoming a firefighter.

He says, "I have to settle for another job, all because I was driving too fast.

"That moment of madness, all your dreams are taken away from you in a split second, it's all gone."

A year after his accident, Joe is hoping to use his experience to hopefully prevent what happened to him from happening to anyone else.

Driving the message home

Twenty five people were killed on this stretch of road in the last four years

The A127 is the most dangerous road in Essex, with 25 fatalities from road accidents in the last four years alone.

The road runs from Southend to London, carrying 80,000 vehicles every day - all of which could potentially be involved in a crash.

Statistics show that road accidents are still the biggest killer of young people under the age of 20, with 1,200 youngsters killed or seriously injured on the Essex roads every year.

That's the equivalent of an average size secondary school.

It's a shocking figure, and now the local authorities are trying to do something about it.

At Southend airport, a group of 16 and 17-year-olds have gathered to learn first hand the dangers of speeding.

What they'll see and hear is likely to shock them, but the authorities hope their message will ultimately save lives.

PC Bernie Brooker of Essex Traffic Police holds a demonstration, in which he shows the teenagers a series of graphic photographs depicting road accidents.

It's obviously having an effect on the group, as 17-year-old Alison Fletcher explains:

Firefighters demonstrate how crash victims are cut free

"When I saw the pictures I was shocked that that much damage could happen to a human being.

"It was devastating - I didn't like it at all."

And 18-year-old Lawrence Hume agrees, saying, "Seeing what can happen in real life left a big impression on me".

Even Joe Fletcher has come along, to warn the kids about the dangers of speeding from his own experience.

With the help of the Fire Brigade, the teenagers learn about the consequences of dangerous driving, as firefighters show them how they cut accident victims out of mangled cars.

Don't be a statistic

Research shows that teenage drivers, particularly 16 and 17-year-olds who have recently passed their tests, are more than twice as likely to be killed when they have passengers in the car.

Lawrence puts his driving skills to the test

Now Inside Out has decided to conduct its own experiment into the risk of crashes by young, recently-qualified drivers.

Eighteen-year-old Lawrence Hume got his driving licence eight months ago and Inside Out puts his driving skills to the test.

He's taking an advanced driving lesson to see just how good a driver he really is.

It looks like Lawrence has fared well - his advanced driving instructor said Lawrence drove much better than most people his age.

"Lawrence was above average for an 18-year-old," says advanced driving instructor Peter Cole.

"He was very thoughtful and didn't break the speed limit."

Lawrence says, "Yeah, it went OK - it was quite interesting seeing what mistakes I could make."

It is measures like this which the police hope will encourage young drivers to be more careful when they are out on the open road.

Inspector Grahame Hinder explains, "It's a real problem with youngsters having just passed their driving test.

"They are now allowed onto the road, but that doesn't mean they've acquired all the skills yet to make them good drivers."

Prevention not cure

The authorities hope that young people will take in the message against dangerous driving, which will hopefully have some effect in reducing road accidents.

But for Joe Fletcher, the consequences of his accident will stay with him forever.

The scars on his legs are a painful reminder of how dangerous driving prevented him from pursuing his dream career as a firefighter.

He says, "It's been a painful lesson to me - I've lost a lot.

"Now when I drive I'm very cautious and slow.

"I'll never speed again."