Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 10/08/2010 10:10

Blue Watch at Falmouth Community Fire Station organised a Skate ‘n’ Paint Event in July targeting teenagers with safety messages about the dangers of reckless driving.

During the last three years in the Falmouth and Penryn area - from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2010, there have been 245 road traffic casualties, of which 4 were fatal, 19 serious and 222 slight.

Statistics show that the highest risk group for driving accidents and injuries is the 17-24 age group. Falmouth and Penryn has one and a half times the Cornwall average of road traffic collisions.

Black Watch from Falmouth Community Fire Station came up with the idea of a targeted event to educate and inform young people of the dangers of reckless driving and Skate 'n' Paint was the result.

A simulated road traffic collision demonstration and a spray paint competition with the theme of road traffic safety combined to give road safety messages. The highlight was a skate competition organised by CFRS Supporting Community Values (SCV) team with skate boarders, BMX and scooter riders taking part.

Event organiser Martin Mellor from Falmouth Community Fire Station said: “Some of the most common causes of accidents caused by young drivers are driving too quickly, recklessly, and being distracted whilst driving. If Falmouth Community Fire Station can help young drivers and passengers understand the dangers associated with driving and if we can prevent one collision from happening then this event will have been a success.”

The painting element of the event was led by Cosmic, a local artist that does lots of work for Quicksilver. Teenagers were able to have a go at painting their own driving safety message onto white boards examples included GET THERE ALIVE, IT’S NOT COOL TO SPEED and SPEED KILLS.

Sk8 Competition results;

Scooters:
1st James Short
2nd Jack Richards
3rd Connor Thomas

BMX:
1st Tom Shape
2nd Jason Cocks
3rd Sam Coltman

Skate:
1st Dan Perkins
2nd Will Grip
3rd Jamie Perry

CFRS extends thank to the local businesses that helped to sponsor this event; Mill Autoquip, Travis Perkins, Phoenix Cinemas, Jag Communications, and Stan’s Games shop. And for hosting the event our partners, The Beacon Resource Centre, and The Dracaena Centre.

Chief Fire Officer Des Tidbury who painted his own road safety message said: “It is a tragic fact that young people aged between 17 and 24 are more likely to die or receive life changing injuries in road accidents. Firefighters in Cornwall recognise this fact and are determined to reduce the numbers of young people killed or injured on our roads through events such as the Skate ‘n’ Paint at the Dracaena Centre”.