Firefighters offer students a road safety steer as summer starts

London Fire Brigade is warning young people about the dangers of driving ahead of the summer holidays. 

The main causes of road traffic collisions are distractions, speeding, not wearing seatbelts and driving under the influence. Peer pressure and inexperience when driving greatly increase the risk of injury and death for young people on London’s roads.

London firefighters have rescued over 900 people from road traffic collisions since 2020.  

Sadly, in the first six months of 2025, the Brigade has seen two fatalities at road traffic collisions in Croydon, the first in the area since 2020. 

Department for Transport statistics show that in London, men aged 17-29 are more likely to be killed in road traffic collisions than any other age group, whereas it is men aged 30-49 for the rest of Great Britain. 

According to Transport for London, 3,696 people were killed or seriously injured on London’s roads in 2024 and speed was a contributory factor in half of all fatal collisions. 

To promote the Brigade’s road safety message, Croydon Fire Station recently provided students from Carshalton College with the unique opportunity to take part in a live demonstration of a rescue from a road traffic collision. 

Station Officer Daniel Foster said: “Once schools and colleges break for summer, many young people will be thinking about learning to drive or planning more journeys with their friends, but it’s important to make sure that they do so safely. 

“Young drivers are the most at risk of being killed or seriously injured on our roads. Even if you're moving slowly, your car can kill a pedestrian or cyclist. 

“In addition, research has shown that young people are more likely to show off and pay less attention to the road when they drive with their friends. 

“This event provided students with the opportunity to sit in the driving seat and understand what it could be like if they are in a road traffic collision. These activities can help them to understand their responsibilities on the roads and encourage them to drive safely.” 

Firefighters rescued the College’s vehicle mechanics teacher from a car in a simulation of what it might be like to be trapped in a vehicle following a road traffic collision.

Students then took part in games that showed the impact of drugs and alcohol on hazard perception and tested their knowledge about vehicle maintenance, breakdowns and the impact of weather warnings on London’s roads. 

The Brigade was joined at the event by London Ambulance Service and the Metropolitan Police Service. 

The ‘fatal four’ causes of serious injuries and deaths on the roads:  

• Speeding: Driving too fast for the road conditions or exceeding the permitted speed limit is dangerous and could end up with tragic consequences. You could also face heavy fines, penalty points on your license or even be banned from driving.  

• Distractions: A split second of distraction, or loss of concentration, can cause a crash and injury to you and others. Using mobile devices such as phones while driving is illegal. Turn down loud music because it can prevent you from knowing what’s going on inside and outside your car. 

• Seat belts: It is against the law not to wear a seat belt, wear them even on short journeys and make sure children are correctly secured. 

• Driving under the influence: It is an offence to drive under the influence. The police can test for both alcohol and drug use at the roadside. Drugs can have an unpredictable effect on your driving, and it is impossible to know how much alcohol will affect you. If you are over the limit or test positive for drugs, you risk a fine, a criminal record or even prison sentence. 

You can find more road safety advice on the London Fire Brigade website.