Campaign to cut tragic toll of young deaths on county roads

MORE than 2,000 17-25 year-olds have been killed or injured on Warwickshire’s roads in the last three years and to raise awareness about this tragic figure and help reduce it, Warwickshire County Council has launched a campaign targeting 17-25 year olds in Warwickshire asking them, what kind of friend are you?

By using a number of different stereotype characters, such as a Charmer, a Flirt, a Joker, and even a WAG, the campaign asks young people, what kind of friend are you? It then takes them through to a quick survey at http://friendorend.co.uk where they get to identify different circumstances where they should step in as a friend. The message is to encourage young people to take action and make sure everyone gets home safely from a night out.

The survey has launched as part of a Warwickshire-wide social media campaign and aims to exceed the 2000 responses received in 2015.

Cllr John Horner, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, said: “Young people aged 17-25 are involved in about a third of all the road traffic collisions that have happened on Warwickshire’s roads in the last three years. Rather than targeting the young people who might be walking or driving home under the influence of drugs or alcohol, this campaign speaks to their friends, the ones who can make all the difference by stepping in and doing the right thing.”

In a bid to reach the right young people the message is also being shared on the music streaming channel Spotify, along with 200 other music apps, for listeners in Warwickshire.

To find out more visit http://friendorend.co.uk