THE severe consequences of driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol has been played out to young people in Milford Haven.

The 'Get Smashed' road safety event saw Pembrokeshire Youth join forces with Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service and Dyfed-Powys Police for the fifth time.

Targeted at new or soon-to-be drivers, attendees see first-hand the effects of a devastating car crash through the sights, sounds and smells of the after-effects.

Statistics in Pembrokeshire show that over the past five years, more than a quarter of all road traffic collisions resulting in personal injury involved a young person aged 16 – 24 years.

For the last two years the event, has opened with the ‘Could you live with yourself’? video, which reflects on the fatal crash in 2006 of motorcycle passenger Karen Boulcott.

In the video, her husband, Dr Mark Boulcott, who was steering the bike when it was hit, describes the timeline of events before, during and after the crash.

Feedback from previous events suggests the story is so powerful because it relates to an accident that occurred in Pembrokeshire.

“Statistically, new or inexperienced drivers are more likely to be involved in an accident that causes death or serious injury compared to their elders counterparts,” said Milford Haven community youth work deputy manager Nick Hudd.

“We don’t shy away from showing the consequences of serious collisions on the road and those attending respond well to the graphic images on show.

“With the help of Dyfed-Powys Police and the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, we can simulate the effects of a crash and youngsters can get a close up view of the aftermath.”

He added: “The fire service rescue more injured people from road traffic collisions than fires and they want to reduce this by 40 per cent by 2020.”

“This would mean 505 fewer people being killed or seriously injured on Welsh roads and with graphic demonstrations such as this, we can go a long way to help them achieve that goal."