The Safe Drive Stay Alive partnership, that saves hundreds of lives across Wiltshire, is celebrating ten years of educating young people across the county about road safety.

Since the pilot roadshow was held in 2006, more than 73,000 young people have seen the hard-hitting presentation and there has been a 42 per cent drop in the number of 16-19 year olds killed or injured in road traffic collisions.

Safe Drive Stay Alive is a Wiltshire and Swindon road safety initiative coordinated by Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service on behalf of a partnership including Wiltshire Police, Wiltshire Council, Swindon Borough Council, Arval Ltd and SWIFT Medics.

New partners on board for the 2015 season are Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Severn Major Trauma Network.

Ian Hopkins, road safety development manager for Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service, who co-ordinates the programme on behalf of the partnership, said: “The roadshow is designed to leave the audience very aware of their own vulnerability and accountability as new drivers.

"We use powerful personal testimonies, from emergency services personnel, bereaved parents, and people left permanently affected by being involved in road traffic collisions, to highlight how the smallest of behaviours can have devastating consequences.

“We know that the show works, and there has been a marked decrease in the number of young people being injured or killed on Wiltshire’s roads since we started ten years ago.

"However, we are not complacent and we will keep pushing these vital safety messages. One life lost is one too many.”