Crash safety course targets county's car drivers

One of the firefighters involved, Thomas Whitelegg, said drivers will learn the same skills they use every day

A team of firefighters have developed a free course to teach drivers about what to if they are involved in - or come across - a crash.

The Warwickshire group from Atherstone Fire Station will deliver the crash course lessons in July with the aim of improving the confidence of those who take part.

The course will include lessons on safety and life-saving skills, including basic first aid.

One of the firefighters involved, Thomas Whitelegg, said: "All the knowledge people recieve on this course is based on the skills we use every day in the service".

He said the brigade previously ran a course which taught motorcyclists about responding to crashes but he had often been asked if there was a similar course for car drivers.

"The only courses that were available for free were if you had already been prosecuted," he added.

Mr Whitelegg said the team decided to create the scheme in order to "empower" people with the skills to know what to do "voluntarily", rather than after a referral from the police.

He said all the courses, to be held at fire stations in Nuneaton, Rugby and Leamington Spa, were fully booked up in the first week they became available.

"We weren't expecting this much interest," he added.