A HARD-HITTING student play about a group of teenagers whose lives change when one of them drives home and crashes after a night out has been hailed by road safety chiefs.

The play, called ‘A Moment of Madness’, was devised and produced by performing arts students from Nelson and Colne College to show young people the implications and repercussions of driving without due care and attention.

As part of their research into road safety issues, the students spoke to police officers, paramedics, parents of crash victims, and mortuary staff, to gain a better understanding of what happens after a serious traffic accident.

Representatives of Lancashire County Council’s Road Safety Group, which commissioned the performance, described the end result as ‘fantastic’.

The play depicts the ‘domino’ effect that such a catastrophe can have, not only on the victim, but also on their friends, family and witnesses.

It was performed by the young actors to other students during tutorials, and staff from the road safety group last week.

Alan Fisher, deputy road safety group manager, said: “I’ve been involved with road safety for 39 years and I can honestly say that I have never seen anything as fantastic as what you have done today.

“It was superb, exceptionally well produced and the message sticks.”

Speaking to the students, Ann Finch, also from the road safety group, who came up with the idea of commissioning the students, said: “I never ever imagined that you would do this so well and I’m truly amazed by what you have done. You took my breath away.”

The messages in the performance were equally powerful for the student audiences.

First year student Lizzie Davis, who is studying for a Level 3 National Diploma in performing arts, said: “It really hits the spot and explains how significant the domino effect is in this sort of situation.

“It was really powerful.”