Amputee Warns Teenagers Against Speeding

16 November 2011, 05:00

A 25-year-old driver who lost his legs in a car accident in Oxford is warning teenagers about the dangers of speeding.

As part of the Safe Drive Stay Alive campaign, Anton Moiseyev's speaking to schoolchildren in Oxford after he lost control of his car in the city earlier this year.

He was trapped for ten minutes while the car was on fire before passers-by rescued him.

He told Heart all he could think about during that time was how he had let his parents down and how disappointed they would be.

Anton, who's originally from Latvia, has spent the last few months getting used to his prosthetic legs and rebuilding his life.

He says the campaign is hard-hitting.

"When we go up to the stage they are very quiet. One lady she couldn't cope with it and she went out crying. I also feel like I'm doing the right thing and it helps me as well."

More than 14,000 sixth formers are going to events this year in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

Also speaking at this year's event is Margaret Wells. Her son died along with three of his friends after the speeding car they were in crashed in Oxfordshire in 2008.

She's told Heart doing the sessions is mentally draining.

"You relive it every day of you life anyhow but something like this brings it to the forefront again. But I feel though if I could save a couple of these kids' lives out of the hundreds that we do it's worth it."

Safe Drive Stay Alive also features a film produced by students at Reading University. It shows a group of young people on a night out whose car is involved in a collision.

The production explores the circumstances that led to the crash and the consequences that follow. Members of the emergency services step onto the stage at specific times to talk about their real-life experience of crashes.

Latest figures show each week more than 2 people die and 180 are injured on roads in the Thames Valley.

Safe Drive Stay Alive is run by our emergency services in the Thames Valley, Safer Roads Partnership and accident and emergency staff.