2fast2soon

News

02.06.2008

2Fast2Soon in 2008

Following feedback from teachers, tutors and students who attended events in 2007, we are currently working on a new and improved initiative. This will involve delivering the production in schools and colleges rather than theatres and provide additional follow-up material to build upon the issues highlighted in the film. We expect this to be available towards the end of this year so watch this space!

05.03.2008

Well done Tom

Congratulations to 18 year old Tom Afford who was last week presented with a brand new iPod Touch after correctly submitting the answer that 51 yong drivers were killed or seriously injured on Northamptonshire's roads in 2006. Tom was presented his prize at Police Headquarters at Wootton Hall, Northampton by PC Steve Harris. Tom, who is currently studying at Northampton College, was also given the opportunity to attend one of Northamptonshire County Council's CarKraft Experience events to be held at Silverstone Circuit later in the year. After attending the 2fast2soon event at Derngate last November Tom said 'As a recently qualified driver I found this Road Safety presentation to be well worth attending and I believe that it should be shown to as many young people as possible'. To all those that missed out we will be running another competition later in the year so keep checking the website for the latest information.

25.02.2008

Drive 16 Events Announced

CarKraft Drive 16 is a day specifically for 16 year olds who want to have a go at driving before their 17th birthday in a safe and controlled environment. What's more the events are held at two of the best motorsport venues in the country - Silverstone and Rockingham. The days have been running since 2002 and hundreds of 16 year olds from Northants have attended. As well as an opportunity to drive with a qualified instructor there are interactive sessions on speed, hazard perception and drink driving. Places on this FREE course are very limited. Anyone interested should send their name and address to roadsafety@northamptonshire.gov.uk and put Drive16 in the title of the message. You must be aged 16 at the time of the event and live in Northamptonshire to qualify.

04.02.2008

Mobiles and driving don't mix

A motorist who was texting on her mobile phone when she hit and killed a cyclist has been convicted of causing death by dangerous driving. Kiera Coultas could now face up to 14 years in prison after killing 19 year old Jordan Wickington at a busy Southampton junction in February 2007. She is due to be sentanced later this month.

It is now routine for police to seize drivers' mobile phones at the scene of serious accidents and examine them to determine if the phone was being used at the time of the incident.

Watch the BBC News clip here.

11.01.2008

Over 600 drivers tested in Northants

More than 600 people were tested during Northamptonshire Police’s annual Christmas Drink/Drug/Drive campaign.

In the month-long campaign a total of 647 people were tested by officers, with 112 found to be positive for alcohol.

The remaining 535 gave negative results for alcohol.

One driver was given a field impairment test for drugs, the result of which is still unknown at this time.

Of those 112 people who gave positive results, 34 were aged between 17 and 24, compared with 40 from 2006.

Also of note, seven of those people arrested during the 2007 campaign were arrested between the hours of 7am and noon, the peak time for the ‘morning after’ style of driver. The same number of people were arrested during the same hours in the 2006 campaign.

In the 2006 campaign a total of 770 people were tested for alcohol, with 129 found to be positive.

Throughout the campaign all drivers involved in road traffic collisions, spotted committing road traffic offences and those suspected of having taken alcohol or drugs, especially the 'morning after' type of road user, were subjected to breath tests.

The operation ran from December 1 until 12.01am on 2 January. Those people who gave positive results have been charged and will be called to appear before magistrates to answer charges.

Every driver who was stopped and tested by officers was issued with an educational leaflet to alleviate some of the mythology surrounding alcohol/drugs and driving.

PC Steve Harris, Casualty Reduction Officer for Northamptonshire Police, said: “I am disappointed that, despite the Forces best efforts at education and awareness, people are still prepared to take the risk of driving whilst over the limit.

“I am especially concerned at those within the 17-24 year old age range who, despite being only 10 per cent of all licence holders, still make up around 30 per cent of all drink/drive arrests.

“The message needs to be clear at all times of the year. The only safe drink/drive limit is none.”

20.12.2007

Mobile Phone Driving Jail Threat

The Crown Prosecution Service has issued guidence that suggests drivers caught driving dangerously whilst using a hendheld mobile phone should be prosecuted for dangerous driving for which a jail term can be served. To read the full story go to the BBC News page .

20.12.2007

Pea souper!

With the onslaught of winter comes the increased chance of poor visibility for drivers. Fog, snow and rain can seriously reduce your visibility and increase the chances of you being involved in an accident. The first thing many people do is to turn their fog lights on but some do not realise that by doing this they could be causing a hazard themselves or even breaking the law. The Highway Code clearly states that front and rear fog lights must not be used unless visibility is seriously reduced (less than 100 metres) and that they should be turned off as soon as visability improves. This is because the alignment and brightness of fog light beams is only designed to be used in poor visability. When visability improves, front fog lights can blind approaching vehicles and rear fog lights can prevent brake lights being seen.

Heres what you need to know:

Front fog lights are not obligatory but if they are fitted must be white or yellow, used as a pair, be clean and working and must only be used in poor visibility.
Rear fog lights are obligatory on vehicles made after April 1986. They must be red and only used in poor visibility. Where 2 are fitted they must both work. If one is fitted it must located in the centre or the offside of the vehicle. They must be clean and in working order.

30.11.2007

The only safe drink drive limit this Christmas is none

Christmas may be just around the corner but Police are reminding people to make sure they don't use the excuse of celebrating the festive season to drive while drunk or on drugs.

Every year around 3,000 people are killed or seriously injured on the country's roads as a result of drink driving and officers are urging people to make sure they and their family or friends don't end up being one of these statistics for next year.

This message is particularly pertinent to 17 to 24 year olds. Although they only represent 6 per cent of all licence holders, they accounted for 57 per cent of the drink drive arrests in the county during last year's Christmas campaign.

Officers are also urging people to make sure they are not over the alcohol limit or under the influence of drugs the morning after consuming them when they get into their car.

This year's campaign, entitled Operation Roadsafe, will see the Casualty Reduction Partnership, including Northamptonshire Police, take part and will begin on Saturday 1 December and end on 2 January 2008.

The campaign has numerous aims. To reduce the number of road deaths and casualties as a result of drink and drug driving on the county's roads as well as educating people about the risks of driving after drinking alcohol or taking drugs.

Members of the public are being encouraged to contact police if they believe someone is driving after consuming drink or drugs via the Force's Drivewatch Hotline. The 24 hour line is a freephone line where non urgent information can be left. The Drivewatch Holine is available at 0800 174615.

Those drivers stopped by officers as part of the campaign will be issued with an educational leaflet to alleviate some of the mythology surrounding alcohol/drugs and driving.

All people involved in road traffic collisions, spotted committing road traffic offences and those suspected of having taken alcohol or drugs, especially the 'morning after' type of road user, will be subjected to breath tests. Officers from the Road Policing Unit will also conduct field impairment tests on those people suspected of being over the limit.

PC Steve Harris, Casualty Reduction Liaison Officer for Northamptonshire Police, said: "We want to heighten the awareness of drink driving and the fact that even a small amount of alcohol can impair your driving. People do not realise the effects alcohol can have on them.

"The message is clear. Do not drink any alcohol or take any drugs before getting behind the wheel of your car.

"It doesn’t matter how much you have eaten, how much sleep you have had or how much coffee you have drunk, alcohol will not disperse in you body any quicker than if you have not."

27.11.2007

Hot off the press!

2fast2soon recieved a lot of attention from the media. Why not check out the reviews page to see what they had to say.

27.11.2007

November events are huge success

Nearly 3000 young people aged 15 to 18 attended the first 2fast2soon events in Northampton and Wellingborough during November 2007. The audience included school, college and work apprentices from across Northamptonshire and judging by some of the comments recieved after the events, it certainly had an impact as many of those attending. A huge thank you to all those who helped make these events a success, especially all the organisations who committed to bringing their students along. Hopefully this will have given those who attended something to think about and we don't want that to end there. We are currently working on follow-up resources so watch this space.

And as for those school/ colleges that could not commit this time round, plans are already underway for next year so if you would like to find out more then just drop us an email at info@2fast2soon.com and see how you can get involved.

30.10.2007

2fast2soon launches in Northamptonshire

Today sees the launch of a widely anticipated road safety initiative which is aimed at reducing the number of young drivers who are killed and seriously injured on Northamptonshire's roads. Last year 51 young people were killed or seriously injured on the county's roads. 2fast2soon is a ground breaking production which features a professionally produced film with input from Northamptonshire’s emergency services. The first events are being shown at Royal and Derngate Theatre in Northampton and Castle Theatre in Wellingborough during November 2007.

2fast2soon is funded by Northamptonshire Casualty Reduction Partnership which includes Northamptonshire County Council, Northamptonshire Police, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service.