An award-winning road safety show could be axed if sponsors for this year’s event is not found.
Safe Drive Stay Alive has been attended by all senior school pupils in the north-east for the past 13 years.
The hard-hitting stage show was launched in an effort to help reduce the deadly and serious crashes which have plagued the region’s roads in recent decades.
This year’s event has been backed by Nexen Petroleum UK, however Aberdeenshire Council has revealed that as yet there are no other sponsors, putting the show in jeopardy.
Margaret-Jane Cardno, chairwoman of the Aberdeenshire Community Safety Partnership, said: “It’s really hard to state the influence this show has on the young people who see it.
“They really do walk away with a heightened sense of awareness of the risks associated with driving.
“Even if we’ve only saved the life of one driver, passenger or pedestrian over the years, I know it’s been worth all the effort and emotion that goes into making it so powerful.
“We are lucky enough to have many people volunteer their time, expertise and experience to make this show happen, but we still need to cover a number of costs to keep it running.
“I encourage anyone who would like to support us to get in touch to help us make our community safer.”
This year’s show is planned for November and will bring 5,000 pupils from the city, shire and Moray to the Beach Ballroom.
The event is a partnership between all three north-east councils, the emergency services and NHS Grampian.
Nexen’s managing director Ray Riddoch said: “We would wholeheartedly encourage more local businesses to get involved to support Safe Drive, Stay Alive in its mission to educate young people at a critical point in their driving career and to help reduce the number of deaths and injuries on our roads.”
For more information about sponsoring the event e-mail sdsa@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
