Crash Magnets Launch
February 2006 saw the launch of Road Safety Scotland's brand new classroom resource aimed at reducing the number of young people killed and injured on Scotland's roads.
The resource, called "Crash Magnets", was launched by Transport Minister Tavish Scott and is aimed at 14-18 year old school pupils. "Crash Magnets" is a phrase used to describe drivers most likely to be involved in a car crash. This could include teenagers with their own car, who have friends with cars or have access to their parent's car.
Speaking at the launch at Anderson High School in Shetland, which was one of twenty schools involved in piloting the resource, Mr Scott said:
"Every day in Scotland two young people are killed or injured in road accidents. That's two too many.
"Road safety education has a vital role to play in ensuring that our young people stay safe on our roads. This innovative new resource will help shape opinions and attitudes to issues such as speeding, drink driving, drug driving and in-car safety.
"The message I want our young people to get is – passing the driving test gives you the right to drive, but with that right there are many responsibilities."
Commenting on the new resource, Nick Morgan, of Learning and Teaching Scotland said: "High-quality multimedia resources such as the 'Crash Magnets' DVD are a great means to engage young people in learning. This new DVD is purposely designed for use by teenagers, and makes use of diverse resources to stimulate them to think and talk about risks to themselves from young drivers who speed, use alcohol or drugs, or get easily distracted.
"It will help young people to grasp road safety issues, and become 'confident individuals' and 'responsible citizens' - two of the key purposes of "A Curriculum for Excellence".
Chief Constable John Vine, Chair of the ACPOS Road Policing Business Area said: "The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) and all Scottish Police Forces are very supportive of Road Safety Scotland's 'Crash Magnets' programme. "Police forces throughout Scotland are fully aware of the factors that lead to drivers being identified as 'crash magnets' and are striving to reduce road casualties that result from drivers whose risky behaviour makes them more likely to cause accidents."
