VIDEO: Adam was paralysed in an accident. Now he's part of a key Safe Drive campaign
Next week 900 students will attend one of the most important presentations of their educational careers – and it may just help to save their lives.
West Sussex Fire and Rescue will be showing its Safe Drive production to students from Chichester College, Chichester High School for Girls, Bishop Luffa, Midhurst Grammar and Seaford College at Chichester Festival Theatre on Tuesday.
The show consists of a graphic, hard-hitting new film, using cast from the Chichester Festival Youth Theatre combined with intensely-personal recollections from members of the emergency services as well as accident victims.
To watch the video click here.
A firefighter remembers holding the hand of a young girl, talking to help keep her alive after a road traffic collision, only to be told on his return to the Chichester station she had died in St Richard's A&E.
A staff nurse remembers having to tell the mother of a young boy he would never walk or use his arms again.
It delivers a strong message on the horrors and tragedy of fatal car crashes involving young people – and it has to.
Statistics show one in five newly-qualified drivers will have a crash within 12 months of passing their test.
From questionnaires received back from students who have already seen Safe Drive, 25 per cent reported being involved in an accident as a passenger.
In 2006 alone, 16 fatal accidents in West Sussex involved young drivers.
Head of community fire and rescue services for West Sussex Roger Wood stresses: "We really want to reach young people when they've just passed or are about to take their driving tests.
"They are surrounded by technology these days, they're very virtual and that's how they drive their cars.
"Safe Drive helps to make them realise the awful reality of road crashes and the devastation it causes families."
The new film was shot locally using locations such as Thursday's nightclub, Thicket Lane in Eartham and the A&E at St Richard's Hospital.
"It was important that it was local," says Roger. "We want the kids to identify with it and really think 'this could happen to me'.
"We want them to realise their lives are worth more than just a bunch of flowers at the side of a road."
Why we got involved:
Chichester College student Adam Lower who was left paralysed following an accident
Bishop Luffa School student Iona Holland who plays the main role in the Safe Drive film
Director of Chichester Festival Youth Theatre Dale RooksChichester College student Adam Lower was left paralysed following an accident
Adam (27) is one of the young volunteers involved in the Safe Drive production. He delivers a moving and shocking account of the accident which changed his life in the hope it will help others to drive safely.
He was just four days away from celebrating his 23rd birthday when he was involved in an accident as he made his way to Chichester College along the A27 on his motorbike.
He was driving at 20mph when he was hit by a motorist crossing a notoriously-dangerous junction just before Tangmere.
Adam turned 23 with seven A&E nurses standing around his bed singing happy birthday. The accident left him paralysed and wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life.
He has undergone 35 hours of surgery, so far. To some this equates to a working week. He became involved with Safe Drive through the college student union and says: "I wouldn't want anyone to go through the excruciating mental and physical pain I've suffered.
"It is only now I can fully appreciate the amount of opportunities able-bodied people have in front of them."
He delivers a powerful message to students, reminding them: "When you are driving be prepared to take the consequences of your actions.
"Try to reduce the number of things that could lead to or complicate an accident.
"In my experience, accidents don't need anything to make them worse."Bishop Luffa School student Iona Holland plays the main role in the Safe Drive film
Iona (17) is a member of the Chichester Festival Youth Theatre and plays the part of Jessie.
Jessie has just turned 18 and is about to go off to university to become a doctor.
After celebrating her birthday at Thursday's nightclub, she tragically loses her life when her car hits a tree on the way home.
It is a graphic, hard-hitting film and a role which really affected Iona.
"It was a big responsibility because I really wanted the audience to relate to Jessie and the tragedy of her losing her life just like that," she said.
"After filming the last scene at A&E, I got off the operating table and just switched back to being me. That really upset me as I remembered two young girls at school who were killed in a crash on their way back from a shopping trip to Bluewater. They couldn't just switch back."
Iona found the film has been a huge influence on her and her friends' driving.
"It's not just about passing your test," she said. "It's driving experience that matters most.
"I would really think twice now about getting into a car with someone who has just passed their test."
Dale Rooks is director of Chichester Festival Youth Theatre
As director of the youth theatre, Dale is keen to encourage new links and partnerships to help young people.
When West Sussex Fire and Rescue Services approached her about Safe Drive, she felt it had an important message.
"I could see why they wanted to make this film," she said. "I know from my own personal experience the devastation a fatal car accident can have on a family and the enormity of trying to recover from that over a long number of years."
Dale lost her own mother when she was killed in a hit-and-run accident caused by a drunk driver. She was also very aware in her choice of cast for Safe Drive.
"They will never forget this type of filming experience and that's a good thing."
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Weather for Chichester
Tuesday 29 May 2012
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
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Temperature: 13 C to 19 C
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