A HEREFORD charity which helps victims of traffic accidents has run an event to warn youngsters of the dangers found on the county’s roads.

Herefordshire Headway (HH), which helps young people and adults who have brain injuries, held a youth awareness day to tell youngsters about the importance of careful driving.

The event, held at its Credenhill base, was part of National Brain Injury Awareness Week to stress the implications of brain injury.

Deputy manager Rachel Hall said: “We find that this invaluable and insightful experience at such an influential stage in a young person’s life has many, extremely positive, long-term effects.

“These include greater understanding of others, heightened awareness of the importance of careful driving and the impact that ignorance of these issues can have on the lives of others.” CSO Nigel Phillips, of the Three Elms and St Nicholas local policing team, told the audience: “When you drive a car or a motorcycle I might as well give you a loaded gun with the catch off – because that is what you are in charge of.

“You don’t know what will hit you and you don’t know how you will survive it, so you need to drive defensively to lessen the chance of having a crash.” CSO Phillips talked of the dangers of driving when tired and offered the following advice: l Make sure you have plenty of sleep before your journey; l Always take a break on a long journey; l When you start to yawn, take it as a warning sign; l Take a proper break instead of opening a window or turning up a radio; l If necessary, take a nap once you’ve parked safely.

Visitors also saw the centre at work, observed its daily routine, met people who attend and heard their stories.

Woodwork, artwork and pottery made by members at therapy sessions was available to view, along with a collection of poems, which gave a sense of how those recovering with the devastating effects of brain injury cope on a day-to-day basis.

The centre helps adults aged between 18 and 65 who have had accidents, illnesses, strokes or brain haemorrhages and more information is available at herefordshire-headway.co.uk