9:10am Friday 3rd July 2009
By Vicki Foster
YEAR 12 pupils at a school in Bromley have had a day learning about road safety.
The Driven by Consequences event took place yesterday (July 2) at Langley Park School for Boys in Hawksbrook Lane, Beckenham.
It was organised by Bromley Council as part of a way to make young people think more about their driving when they get behind the wheel.
As well as members of the council’s road safety team attending the event, it was also attended by the Met Police, The London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade.
Angus Culverwell, manager of the casualty reduction unit for Bromley Council said: “The council has a responsibility to keep our roads as safe as they can.
“The point is to get everyone thinking before the accident happens and if we can stop just one crash then it is worth it.”
During the all-day event the pupils saw a crashed car and helped to look for clues, record data and take statements.
They also watched films showing car crashes, the consequences of not wearing a seatbelt and saw real life images of people who had been involved in crashes.
Pupil, Cassie De Souza said the event made her think more.
The 17-year-old said: “It has really made everyone aware of the dangers and the risks associated with driving, especially the boys who have seen the consequences of speeding and what seems so harmless to them actually has so many risks associated.
“I think when I pass my test I will definitely take a lot of what I have learnt into consideration.”
The pupils also watched a mock inquest and listened to the mum of Ben Morgan, who died in 2003 at the age of 16.
Ben was killed after he came off his moped and skidded across a road into another vehicle.
Sergeant Jon Webb, collision investigator for the Met Police said: “In south east London we have far too many people of this age killed in collisions and in many cases if they had worn a seatbelt or driven a little slower, the accident could have been avoided or survivable.”
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