Evaluation of the Crash Course March 2009 - De Montfort University

Practical logistics and professional production
“It’s transportable. Logistics – you don’t have to bring the audience to it.”
[A film or theatre production] “won’t impact as much as someone in your
personal space...Personal testimony live versus on video is powerful.”
5.2 The commitment of the team
Interviews with those involved in delivery underlined the complete commitment of the
whole team to getting the safety messages out to young people. They have all been
personally touched by their experiences.
“They are fantastic and dedicated. They don’t mess about. They come straight
to the point.”
“I don’t like to see people hurt. I didn’t like to see the mess people were in.
You had to get on with it. But the worst time...is going back home and thinking
about the people and the others who were left....Ask a question like ‘how
many have not worn a seat belt?’ and see ninety per cent put up their hands.
That motivates me.”
“The people who do it have a way of conveying it with compassion and a truly
genuine desire that people don’t end up these god awful messes with the
implications that go on and on and on. I think everybody would like to think
they could prevent it happening to someone else.”
5.3 Perceptions of impact
All those interviewed shared the belief that Crash Course does have a positive
impact. They felt that it is remembered and in many cases does actually change
attitudes, intentions or behaviour.
“Comments are made by young people say twelve months later. They say ‘I
remember that: I’m going to wear a seat belt.’ Generally it does have an
effect. We can’t measure it exactly. There are so many strategies for Road
Safety. You can never be sure and you can’t measure how many lives have
been saved. What I do know is that it’s costly. Every road traffic accident
where there’s a death costs £1million.”
“What motivated me was the effect it had on the audience... Teenagers – they
won’t listen for more than ten minutes. Here was a class listening for two
hours...maybe not the whole talk but bits of it do sink in...I can’t quantify it but I
do feel it’s making a difference. It’s the most effective presentation I’ve ever
seen.”
“The group we brought here [in the internal evaluation] had all had Crash
Course. The finding was that they were still challenging friends and families.
They had realised they could have an influence.”
“I’ve not driven the same since seeing it. I’ve seen others affected by what
they’ve seen; there is no reason why they have not changed their behaviour
like I have. It must have saved some lives. If one has been saved, then it’s
worth it.”
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