Firefighter sent to car crash found own son hurt

Following his son's recovery, crew commander Paul Harper is teaching road safety to young drivers

A firefighter sent to a serious car crash involving his own son has begun road safety sessions for young drivers.

Crew commander Paul Harper, from Dudley Red Watch in the West Midlands, was working a night shift when his team responded to a single-vehicle collision.

On arrival, he discovered his son was a passenger in the car, which had struck a telegraph pole.

Mr Harper's child has since made a full recovery from serious injuries sustained in the crash, and the experience has now prompted him to start free Young Driver Awareness Courses at Dudley Fire Station.

The family remain affected by the emotional impact of the crash, Mr Harper said.

"My own experience prompted the idea, but as firefighters, our job is also about prevention - giving people the knowledge to make safer choices before something goes wrong.

"One of the most rewarding parts has been hearing parents and young people say, 'my behaviour will change after this'. That's exactly what we're aiming for."

Virtual reality goggles are used to teach young drivers about real crash scenarios

Around a fifth of car crash casualties in 2023 involved a young driver, with young male drivers four times as likely to be killed or seriously injured as over 25s, according to the government.

The interactive Dudley sessions, for 17 to 24 year olds, are designed to help them understand risks they may face on the road and how to avoid them.

Activities include driving go-karts while wearing goggles that simulate the effects of being drunk and virtual-reality crash scenarios.

Mr Harper said they had been well-received, with a mix of learner drivers and those who had recently passed their tests attending, some encouraged to come by parents.

Learner driver Ethan described the session as "informative" and added: "It's really changed how I think about driving. I'd definitely recommend it to other young people."

The fire service said about 200 people had attended five sessions so far, and courses were running at Dudley Fire Station every three to four weeks.