“You’re twice as likely to have an accident if you use a mobile phone while driving than if you were over the drink drive limit.” That was one of many stark stats shared at Hampshire and Isle of Wight community welfare charity The Blue Lamp Trust’s annual conference at Southampton’s Grand Harbour Hotel.
Moving delegates to tears with some hard-hitting footage and stories caused by mobile phone usage, even from using a hands-free kit, the charity which offers advanced driver training, certainly left guests in no doubt about their drives home.
The Blue Lamp Trust was set up by the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Police to promote safety in the community. All profit from a range of driver training programmes is reinvested into running the popular Bobby Scheme, which provides free home safety and security for the vulnerable and elderly across Hampshire.
Serving Police Officer, comedian and broadcaster Alfie Moore, who also writes and presents his own BBC Radio 4 comedy series ‘It’s a Fair Cop’, took to the stage at the 130-guest event to bring some comic relief to the charity’s event.
Blue Lamp Trust Chairman Graeme Hobbs, Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney, Alison Jones from Exxon Mobil Fawley, Blue Lamp General Manager Jim Bettley and Deputy Chief Fire Officer Neil Odin also spoke at the event, which was attended by employers, directors, HR managers, fleet managers and health and safety managers from across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Olivia Pinkney said: “The Blue Lamp Trust is at the heart of all we collectively do to keep people safe. The difference it’s made to 12,000 people since 2010 is remarkable.”
Other topics included the work of the Blue Lamp Trust's Bobby Scheme, which has provided practical help, advice and reassurance as well as free home and security support for the vulnerable, elderly and victims of crime since 1997. The Blue Lamp Trust’s advanced driver training was also given the spotlight by Jim Bettley with particular focus on the risks of mobile phone use while driving.
There were lots of fun practical activities for delegates to take part in during the breaks including a virtual reality formula one driving experience, an urban driving simulator, a rally driving simulator competition and a pit stop wheel change challenge. Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service also provided a fire engine for exploration, and a car crash vehicle to inspect. South Central Ambulance Service also provided an ambulance and all-terrain Polaris rescue vehicle for guests to look at.
Blue Lamp Trust general manager Jim Bettley said: “This year’s conference was definitely our best yet, Alfie Moore was just the perfect humorous tonic, particularly following some emotionally charged footage from my speech regarding mobile phone use while driving. We are so grateful to our sponsors for supporting not only the event, but also their continued support for the Trust, without which it wouldn’t be possible to help the numbers which we do.”
Guests were treated to a host of prize-winning opportunities which included the chance of a Grand Harbour afternoon tea for two, John Lewis vouchers, Ageas Bowl cricket tickets, Goodwood voucher, clay pigeon shooting and a balloon popping raffle to win the chance of a Ford Mustang for a day from Hendy Ford or a Lexus for a day from Winchester Motor Group.
To learn more about The Blue Lamp Trust's driver training or more information about the Bobby Scheme, contact 0300 777 0157 or visit: www.bluelamptrust.org.uk
Photo: Left to right: Jim Bettley, General Manager of Blue Lamp Trust, Alfie Moore and Graeme Hobbs, Chairman of Blue Lamp Trust
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