Evaluation of the Crash Course March 2009 - De Montfort University

espect of deprivation, it is crucial that delivery should continue to schools and
colleges in Stoke-on-Trent where there is more widespread deprivation than in the
surrounding county.
7.3 Recommendations
The evidence of the study leads the research team to make the following
recommendations:
1. The Crash Course has demonstrated its effectiveness and should be retained as
part of the overall portfolio of road safety interventions in Staffordshire and
Stoke-on-Trent.
2. The core educational work with young people should be funded on a permanent
basis.
3. The core task should remain the achievement of near universal coverage at Year
11. This is the point at which maximum coverage of the youth cohort can be
secured. The essential nature of the programme should not be changed in
response to the pressure for income generation or the demands for services to
adults.
4. The course is likely to be effective with adult audiences as well as with young
people. The partnership should consider using income generated in this way to
fund development of the team and the dissemination of the course methods.
5. The design and content file for the course should be revised and updated to
ensure all the current essential messages and methods are reflected. It should
then be made copyright.
6. Particular attention should be paid to developing and increasing the content on
coping strategies.
7. A handout should be made available for reference giving key messages and
actions that young people can take to reduce risk.
8. Information should also be provided on agencies able to give counselling, advice
or support outside the school context.
9. New examples should be constantly sought to avoid the presentation becoming
stale or dated. Items of direct relevance to young people, such as the safe use of
motorbikes and scooters, could be particularly valuable.
10. The effects of relatively low levels of alcohol should be stressed as awareness of
effects and limits is poor amongst young people.
11. Wherever possible schools, colleges and training providers should be
encouraged to follow up and reinforce the road safety messages in other parts of
the timetable in as many subject areas as possible.
12. The Crash Course core team should be consolidated if possible with a single
employer and common line management, preferably in local authority education
in order to link most effectively with schools, colleges and the Youth Service.
Ideally salaries should be reviewed.
13. Strong links to existing partners should however be preserved, especially to
retain the essential contribution of the Fire and Rescue Service and the police.
Branding should be carefully considered for appeal and neutrality.
14. The core team needs a stable and adequate physical base and administrative
support should be considered.
15. All those engaged in delivery should have a system in place for pastoral support
and the management of stress where that is not already provided.
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