A CLITHEROE company has teamed up with road safety campaigners to ensure its young drivers stay safe on the roads.

Firefighters in the Ribble Valley held a presentation in Clitheroe for the first time and chemical and technology company Johnson Matthey put forward some of its young employees.

The firm got on board with Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety’s Wasted Lives campaign and Lancashire Fire and Rescue through employee Stephen Clements, 52, who had his life transformed by an accident.

Mr Clements, from Great Harwood, used to be a maintenance fitter until a crash five years ago which left him with severe leg injuries. He had 11 operations after the crash and is now slightly disabled. He currently works as a technical clarke.

Mr Clements, who’s a member of Chorley Advanced Motorists, said: “This could make a massive difference even if it stops one young driver having an accident.

“This presentation shows them the consequences of an accident, they don’t realise the consequences.”

The Wasted Lives campaign, supported by the Lancashire Telegraph, was launched to reduced the number of fatalities, crashes and injuries involving drivers aged 16 to 25.

The presentation, at Auction Mart, on Thursday, was attended by around 20 16 to 25-year-old’s from Johnson Matthey attended.

Mr Clements also encourages young drivers to take an advanced motoring course.

Accidents involving young drivers in Lancashire have been falling. The latest figures show the number of accidents involving 16 to 25-year-olds dropped to 2,013 in 2010 compared to 2,286 the year before.

Station manager Liam Wilson, service delivery manager for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service in the Ribble Valley, said: “Firefighters are only too used to attending road traffic crashes and having to deal with the appalling results of dangerous driving behaviour, often by young people.

“The Wasted Lives Programme challenges the attitudes of young drivers’, and those of their parents, concerning the risks associated with driving.”