TAYSIDE’S EMERGENCY services are to reach out to more than 3500 young people in the run-up to Christmas, to implore them to drive safely.

For the first time, the fifth-year pupils will be joined at the “graphic” Safe Drive Stay Alive roadshow by students from Angus and Perth Colleges.

The aim of safe Drive Stay Alive is to give the audience a sense of their own mortality and clearly illustrate the dangers that arise when road safety is neglected.

Factors include inexperience, a lack of driver awareness, distraction and, at times, overconfidence.

Some of the young audience will have recently passed driving tests, while others will be having lessons or about to start.

Businessman Sir Arnold Clark, of the car sales firm which bears his name, supports the event.

He said, “Because I’m on the road a lot visiting my branches, I’ve seen some terrible road traffic accidents and it has made me even more aware of road safety.”

The organisers include Tayside Fire and Rescue and Tayside Police with support from NHS Tayside, the Scottish Ambulance Service, three councils and community safety partnerships.

Road collisions are the main cause of death and injury to young people in Scotland. The government has set targets for 2010 to reduce the numbers by 40% and 50% respectively.

The audio-visual event graphically illustrates the tragic circumstances of crashes, giving those who have been affected by road incidents a chance to share their personal experiences.

The audience also hear from the professionals who deal with the aftermath of serious collisions.

The content is shocking but students can opt out at any time.

Safe Drive Stay Alive’s dates include a visit to Bell’s Sports Centre in Perth on December 9 and 10.