TWO years ago Time and Place, a road safety group based in the Forest of Dean, began to launch its hard-hitting presentations in Herefordshire.

Founder Jimmy Martin had been approached by Herefordshire driving instructor Heather Thompson, who wanted to introduce the group’s powerful road safety presentations into Herefordshire.

Since then, they have succeeded in taking their message into county schools and to organisations which deal with young people.

And the group hopes it can continue to build on the success that saw it awarded Prince Michael’s international road safety award at the end of 2007.

“Heather is doing a fantastic job,” said Jimmy.

“She has let 1,200 young people in Herefordshire see this presentation.”

These schools include the Bishop of Hereford’s Bluecoat School and the Minster College in Leominster.

Bookings have also been made at Wigmore High School and John Masefield High School in Ledbury.

After the presentation, youngsters are asked if they think the group should go into every school in Herefordshire – almost all of them reply positively.

“They all have a story to tell. They all seem to know someone who has died in a traffic accident,” said Heather.

Keen to drive the message home, the group has obtained a new recruit closer to the age of those they try to help.

Christie Neal, a 17-year-old pupil of Heather’s, joined one recent session to tell youngsters of her own experience.

“A couple of years ago I got hit by a car near the library in Ledbury,” said Christie, who lives in Much Cowarne.

“I rolled up on the bonnet and rolled back off. I got up and the woman driving shouted at me for denting her bonnet and drove off.”

The experience persuaded her to help the group out and she still finds their presentations powerful.

“It hits home that it’s not just other people involved – it can happen to you,” said Christie.

“It hurts when people close to you get hurt.”

Exciting plans are afoot to set up a driving education centre in the Forest of Dean that would be accessible to Herefordshire drivers.

The site would include roads, roundabouts, junctions and skid-pans.

“This is my dream,” said Jimmy. “The idea is to educate young people to get them up to a certain standard before they get on the road. Everything would be in a confined area where it is completely safe.”

The group hopes to be invited into more Herefordshire schools and receive funding from county businesses.

Each presentation costs between £350 and £400 and businesses such as Cargill Meats Europe, formerly Sun Valley, have provided much-needed sponsorship.

Anyone interesting in sponsoring the group, which is a registered charity, or getting them to put on a presentation can call Heather on 01432 820573.