Roads, Risks and Responsibilities

Comenius Visit

May saw the final part of the Comenius 3R’s European project, (Roads, Risks and Responsibilities) – an 18 month project based on the concept of a road traffic accident reconstruction and accompanying research to aim to change attitudes to drinking and driving.

This final three day meeting took place at LMC, with 41 European student and staff visitors; 20 from Austria, 10 from Italy and 11 from France. On the first day of the visit, the students toured the college, and 12 Students from Fiona Marroni’s Business course presented an evaluation of questionnaires completed by SIB students. In the evening, the visitors attended a meal in Coulson’s, where they enjoyed a traditional Lancashire dinner which they enjoyed very much (shock fact, the Italians don’t eat vegetables whole –only disguised in sauces or pizza!)

During the visit, students from Film and TV Production with tutors Janine Bebbington and Wendy Bickerstaffe presented the final version of their film made in Italy to applause and congratulations. Linda Sanderson for Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety attended the presentations and congratulated all involved, commentating on similarities between the project’s findings and their own. Linda had joined in an initial visit with Val Osborne and Health and Social Care students to Austria to decide on which themes to focus on for the film.

European students attended a Wasted Lives session on their last afternoon and the staff had the opportunity to learn about the Enercities project from John Latham. The visitors also had the chance to experience some local culture on their visit, including a tour of Lancaster Castle and a visit to the Lake District including a cruise from Ambleside to Bowness.

The outcome of the 3R’s project is a film which is being disseminated at the European commission, through the British Council and shown in cinemas in Austria as a main film trailer. The attitudinal research is being used to inform the design of educational resources in all partner countries. What was clear from the research was that the young people surveyed were aware of what they should do in relation to wearing seatbelts, following speed limits, not drinking and driving, not using mobile phone whilst driving and the consequences of doing the opposite. However a significant proportion chose to ignore legal requirements in relation to them and knowingly risk their lives and those of others. The film had an impact on the behaviour of 10% of those watching it, they indicated that the film had made them reconsider their actions and choices and they would improve their driving habits and behaviour as a result.

Further work will now take place in each country to look at ways to effectively influence choices made by young people in relation to safe driving behaviour and ultimately reduce death and injury on the roads.

The highlights of the visit were:

• Easyjet being wonderful to the Austrian party stranded in Munich because of the Ash cloud; they had a top hotel for the night in Munich at Easyjet’s expense and they went the extra mile to get them to Manchester (not what we’ve been reading about them in the newspapers!)
• The weather. They couldn’t believe it!! (It was VERY sunny on the first day)
• The joy of seeing visitors experience the beauty of the Lakes for the first time even though they come from stunning areas themselves; lots of cries of “C’est beau” and the same in Italian and Austrian as we saw Windermere for the first time.
• The realisation from LMC staff that we take a lot for granted in this area, and the fact that teenagers (and their tutors) are the same Europe wide; they went into shops and came out with lots of carrier bags!
• A fabulous tour of the castle thanks to Sarah the tour guide who got the students to role play a divorce in the docks at Shire Hall and role play the Pendle Witches’ story in the Dungeons
• Despite our apprehension about the large numbers, we did not lose anyone, everyone was on time (apart from the ash cloud) and they were all really well behaved.

Visit the project website - www.comenius-3rs.eu