A NEW hard-hitting initiative aimed at reducing the number of young drivers killed on Northamptonshire's roads was launched this week.

Last year, 43 young drivers aged 17 to 24, were killed or seriously injured on the county's roads.

This figure was 29 per cent of the total casualties.

Now, the county's casualty reduction partnership has produced a DVD showing a crash said to be typical of those involving young drivers.

The film, called 2Fast 2Soon, shows a group of friends going out to celebrate their A-Level results and university places.

It highlights how events can go from celebration to disaster and explores the effects on those involved. The county's emergency services took part in the production of the DVD, and it was filmed in Northamptonshire.

The film will be shown to around 3,000 students at 2Fast 2Soon events taking place around the county. At each of these events, the viewing will be followed by a debrief from emergency service representatives, to help the students understand how crashes can be avoided.

Liz Tavener, Northamptonshire County Council's executive member for community safety, said: "Young drivers are a notoriously difficult group to reach with road safety messages and information about driving safely.

"The 2Fast 2Soon film doesn't pull any punches. Instead it shows young drivers exactly what can happen if they take unnecessary risks.

"We hope that by using this hard-hitting film, alongside a debrief from emergency services staff, we will be able to help young people become safer drivers and avoid collisions in the future."