Barry Comprehensive School

Barry Comprehensive School Sixth Form students were delighted to welcome John Smith MP to the school’s learning resource centre last week as part of the Road Safety UK campaign.

Mr Smith, who is a regular visitor to the school, spoke to sixth formers about the importance of road safety and illustrated his talk with reference to his personal experiences. The audience was very receptive, particularly as many of them are currently taking driving lessons and looking forward to owning their first car.

Mr Smith then introduced Mr Palmer, whose son Ashley, a former Barry Comprehensive pupil, was tragically killed in 2003 by a drunk driver. Mr Palmer spoke at length to the rapt sixth formers, giving a moving account of the night that he and Mrs Palmer lost their son.

The sixth-formers then had the opportunity to talk with both Mr Smth and Mr Palmer and discussed a range of issues including the perception of young drivers as problem drivers and the most effective way to change driving behaviour.

Photo: John Smith MP addresses the Sixth Form at Barry Comprehensive School