AN EMOTIVE and realistic car crash scene welcomed children and teenagers from across the county, as they were invited to a road safety event in Milford Haven.

Held at Milford Haven Youth Club on Thursday (Oct 8), the hard-hitting event was co-ordinated by Community Youth Worker for Pembrokeshire County Council Nick Hudd.

Focusing on the serious consequences of danger driving and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, the shocking live action crash scenarios looked to educate the teenagers into safer driving.

With involvement from Dyfed-Powys Police, St John’s Ambulance and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, a car crash scenario was played out involving two vehicles, local teenagers acting as the injured drivers and passengers and the emergency services demonstrating their role in a road traffic collision.

Nick Hudd spoke to the Western Telegraph and said: “This is the fourth year of the event, and we continually adapt and update it according to the issues affecting the teenagers.

“Last year a number of the teenagers said that they had got into a vehicle knowing the driver was either intoxicated or been on drugs. Because of this we’ve developed a workshop with the police showing the equipment used to test on the roadside for alcohol and drugs, and the effects of alcohol and drugs on drivers.

“Young people are the most at risk on our roads, and an emotive scenario like this will hopefully educate the young people here today. Also today helps to humanise the emergency services to the young people, so they can look past the uniform and see the person behind it.”

Workshops for those taking part where hosted by the police and fire service, and Milford Haven Youth Centre, the Milford Haven Neighbourhood Policing Team, Milford Youth Matters and Choices Cymru were all in attendance.

Nick Hudd added: “The emergency services involvement in this is fantastic. They are brilliant in setting up the crash scenario and hosting the workshops with the teenagers.

Cllr Rob Lewis, Cabinet Member for Transportation, said: “This event aims to raise awareness of the potentially serious consequences of a road traffic collision and the impact it can have on the driver’s life and that of others.

“We do a lot of targeted road safety campaigns – including some for older drivers and motorcyclists - so we are not singling out this group of younger people, but providing an ongoing programme of driver awareness.”