Police cadets have learned some shocking lessons about road safety and the consequences of dangerous driving at an emergency services training exercise at Bath Racecourse.
In the mock-up major traffic incident on Tuesday, one person died and others were seriously hurt when three cars collided.
It was a graphic scenario that saw casualties with gruesome make-up injuries being treated by paramedics, while fire crews with hydraulic cutting gear battled to free them from the vehicles.
There was extra drama for the hundred or so watching cadets from Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire, and their families, when the Great Western Air Ambulance flew in to the racecourse to whisk a casualty to hospital.
The ‘crash’ was caused by teenagers in two cars racing and colliding with a middle-aged couple driving the other way.
Passenger Amy Chapman, 14, a cadet from Midsomer Norton, sporting a realistic head wound, said: “We know it’s just an exercise but everyone’s treating it so realistically. My legs are shaking.”
Car drivers Jordan Jones, 16, from Bath and 15-year-old Shay Hatchard, from Radstock, found themselves in deep trouble.
Both cadets were breath-tested and taken away in handcuffs by Tri-Force traffic officers, charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
The event was the work of Radstock police volunteer Chris James.
He said: “Young drivers under 25 are the high-risk category for road collisions and deaths.
“Our cadets are, or soon will be, riding mopeds or motorbikes or driving cars, so the aim of this event is to educate them about all aspects of road safety.”
Cadet organiser, Radstock Sergeant Geoff Cannon, told the audience: “This is a real training exercise involving all the emergency services.
“You’ll see close-up how we work in extreme conditions, dealing with casualties, investigating the cause, arresting those responsible and managing a major road collision that is a crime scene that could have a big impact on traffic in a much wider area for hours.“
North East Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Caroline Peters, said: “This has been a quite outstanding demonstration from all the services, and from the cadets and volunteers who acted their parts so convincingly.
“We hope it sends out a very important message about road safety, the need to drive sensibly and with consideration to others, that we can all take away and share.”
Taking part in the exercise were:
- Avon Fire & Rescue Service;
- South Western Ambulance Service;
- Avon & Somerset Police;
- Great Western Air Ambulance;
- Casualty Union.
Static displays were staged by emergency vehicles involved in the demonstration, the Road Safety Partnership’s camera van and motorbike, the Belt-up School of Motoring, and Drive Tech, the Castle Combe Skid Pan Team.
Post-demonstration hospitality was provided by Bath Racecourse.
