Their aim is Vision Zero; making sure there are no deaths or serious injuries on Essex roads by 2040, and this session really helped show why that goal matters.

Many students were surprised to learn that road traffic accidents are the number one cause of death for young people aged 5–29. As soon as teenagers start using cars and motorbikes, the risk increases sharply; something the workshop aimed to make really clear.

Instead of simply talking about the ‘Fatal Four’ causes of crashes - speeding, drink or drug driving, not wearing seatbelts, and distractions, our students watched these situations come to life through a powerful play. Each scene showed how these risks can build up in real moments that young people might face, and how one quick decision or giving in to peer pressure can lead to a dangerous outcome.

Students watched a multi-media theatre performance that included dramatic scenes, monologues, sound effects, and visuals. It took them through the moments leading up to a crash and showed the emotional and long-term impact that follows. Many students said it felt very real and really made them think about the choices they’ll face when they start driving or riding as passengers.

Overall, our Year 11 students learned a lot about how quickly things can go wrong on the road and how important it is to stay safe, speak up, and look out for each other. The workshop definitely gave everyone something to think about as they move towards becoming young drivers.

"The assembly yesterday was both very entertaining and educational. The play at the start offered a performance that was engaging and gave a look into actual experiences. The talk after was a very good way to end the workshop and gave insight into real world statistics" Hayden.A

"I believe the road safety assembly was informative, as statistics and possible real-life cases were given. It allowed everyone to better understand the effects of unsafe driving, and therefore empathise and treat the deaths related to vehicles with more compassion" Yanna.I

"The whole workshop enlightened me on ideas that never really occurred to me about road safety. It has made me more aware on how to be careful when I eventually learn how to drive" Lee.M

"I liked how they used a play to educate us. I also liked how they used a scenario that could happen to anyone at any time. They also used statistics to show how much driving affects people in multiple different ways" Hannah.A