Liskeard Students Attend Road Safety Demonstration by Emergency Services

Live demonstrations reveal the harsh reality of road collisions

Students from a Liskeard college were recently given a front-row seat to the life-saving actions emergency crews take following a collision.

Over 35 students aged 17 to 18 attended a hands-on road safety session at Liskeard Community Fire Station, where they watched the police, fire service, and tri-service officers carry out live emergency demonstrations.

The event, aimed at young people who are learning to drive or have just passed their test, showed what really happens when the emergency services respond to a crash.

Doors off, people out: learning what it takes

During the session, students saw car doors being removed and learnt how officers safely extract people from vehicles. They were also shown how emergency crews check for ongoing risks at the scene.

PCSO Bex Steed, who organised the event, said:
“Quite a few young people within this age range are either learning to drive or are newly qualified. It’s so important for us to reach out whilst they’re still in the early stages of driving.

“Our aim is to encourage them to make safe decisions now and in the future, whilst highlighting the consequences of dangerous choices.

“Driving can bring an amazing sense of independence. We just want to make sure that young people enjoy this new chapter of their lives safely to protect themselves and those around them.”

The fatal five: key lessons for new drivers

Students also took part in a talk about the fatal five — the most common causes of road collisions. These include:

• Inappropriate or excessive speed

• Not wearing a seatbelt

• Driver distraction, including mobile phone use

• Driving under the influence of drink or drugs

• Not being physically or medically fit to drive

In addition to road safety, the students learnt basic first aid and were shown how to perform CPR.

More sessions planned for 2025

The emergency services who took part in the session plan to run similar demonstrations in the new year, aiming to keep more young drivers safe as they begin their driving journeys.