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Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) have launched a new video within the Vision Van virtual reality immersive experience – transforming road safety education for young people.
The Vision Van is a road safety vehicle that utilises virtual reality films to engage and educate young drivers in schools and at local events. The new film, ‘5 in 5’, aims to warn and inform young drivers of risks behind the wheel.
Using dedicated hydraulic chairs inside the van, users are immersed into a virtual reality scenario, giving them a realistic understanding of the factors and risks that can lead to a driver being distracted or losing concentration on the road.
Road traffic injuries are a leading cause of death for children and young people worldwide. In Great Britain, young drivers are over-represented in serious and fatal collisions. In 2022, 19% of all car driver fatalities were aged 17-24, and 24% of all fatalities from collisions involving a car driver involved at least one young driver.
Station Commander Matthew Hyland, Prevention Manager at BFRS, said: “Young drivers are disproportionally involved in serious road traffic collisions both within Bedfordshire and across the country and we want to help reverse that.
“Our new ‘5 in 5’ video delivers key road safety advice so that young drivers can keep themselves safe, and we know that our Vision VR Van is a fun and engaging way for us to connect with young road users who may not usually be keen on being educated about safe road use. We’ll be reaching out to those driving already, learning to drive or not yet started to learn and know our new ‘5 in 5’ video will help them become the safest drivers they can be”
LFRS Watch Manager for Road Safety, Kate Garrigan, said: “With this VR experience, we’re not just telling young drivers what could happen – we’re showing them. If this film can help even one person pause before texting while driving, or speak up when a friend is being reckless, then it’s already a success.”
The Vision Van has been on the road for more than a year and plays a pivotal role in Bedfordshire’s Road Safety Partnership’s mission to reduce road casualties by 50 per cent by 2035. Schools, colleges and other higher education institutions can book a visit from the team that operates the Vision Van.
The team also proactively take the van into the community, encouraging young people from across the county to engage with the impactful virtual experience. One recent visitor to the Vision Van, a 16-year-old girl, said: “Some of my male friends like to drive fast, but in future I will have the confidence to say to them that I feel scared and ask them to slow down. If they don’t listen to me, I will tell them that I feel sick and need to get out of the car”.
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