Moment of madness can prove deadly
Fatal car crash footage used to deter danger drivers
Boy racer Gary Nicholson, 21, took just seconds to kill his passenger and best pal Alec Stewart, 18, and Patricia Brown, 52, after ploughing into her car.
He had been bombing down a country road at up to 105mph when he lost control of his Vauxhall Corsa and took out an oncoming Peugeot.
Mrs Brown had been travelling home from a holiday with her husband but never reached her front door.
The pair’s final moments were captured on dash cam footage and are being used to educate motorists on the horrors of dangerous driving.
Police Scotland devised the scheme and has shown it to more than 1,000 drivers aged 17 to 25, with Renfrewshire Council committing to screen it to all its Modern Apprentices.
Superintendent Nichola Burns, of Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Division, said “Working with the council is a fantastic way for us to reach out to new drivers.
“It allows us to promote road safety by discussing opinions and driving styles, and highlighting the dangers of peer pressure and bravado while in control of a vehicle.
“Working in partnership with Renfrewshire Council allows us to improve road safety by delivering the right messages to the right audience and at the most appropriate time.
“We hope our presentations will change attitudes and behaviours.”
One of the reasons it is being shown to apprentices is that tradesmen often spend long hours on the road travelling between jobs, as well as the miles they clock up out of hours.
It is also being rolled out to senior high school teens, students and driving instructors can refer their pupils.
Heather Love, 20, from Erskine, is a local authority trainee greenkeeper and has been driving for three years.
She said: “Learning from a real example really hammers the point home about how devastating driving badly can be.
“I think everyone on the road should take part in the scheme, not just young drivers.
“There are so many people who have been driving for so long they have forgotten what signs and markings mean.”
She was joined by Derek Smith, 21, from Paisley, an apprentice council joiner.
He said: “It was a real eyeopener seeing what can happen.
“Everything can change in seconds and lives can be turned upside down.
“It shows just how important it is to drive to road conditions and pay attention.”
The project aims to stamp out bad habits before they have a chance to form.
It is shown to provisional licence- holders and those beginning to think about getting behind the wheel.
Apprentice HGV mechanic Mitchell Cannon, 17, from Paisley, has bought his first car, but has not yet passed his test.
He said: “There’s so much to take in when you are learning to drive, but this hit home hard.
“If everyone who was getting ready to take or had just passed their test took part in the course, they would definitely think twice about driving irresponsibly.”
Gary Nicholson had been racing with pals on his way to a ‘car cruise’ to show off his motor.
He ignored warnings and smashed into the car carrying Mrs Brown and her husband John on the B769 in Ayrshire, in April 2014.
Nicholson, of Stewarton, was jailed for almost five years.
His friends Ewan McLeod and Yung Lau, from the same town, who were both then just 20, and soldier Lee Copeland, then 23, from Irvine, were handed 18-month community payback orders.
They were ordered to carry out unpaid work after admitting dangerous driving.
Councillor Marie McGurk, convener of Renfrewshire Council’s communities, housing and planning policy board, insists early intervention can change the way young motorists think.
She said: “The new driver programme will be of terrific benefit to young drivers and those at the beginning of the learning process.
“It is important that drivers are aware of the hazards that can present while driving and the course will inform how to spot and prepare for them as early as possible.
“We are keen to work with our partners, like Police Scotland, to ensure our staff receive the highest quality training and we will be utilising this programme to ensure staff are fully prepared to carry out their roles.”