DEATHS from road traffic accidents in Hertfordshire have substantially decreased in the past 12 years according to figures presented at the Hertsmere Community Safety Partnership on Monday.

Statistics show the number of fatalities fell from 404 between April 1999 and March 2005 to 279 between April 2005 and March 2011. Statistics show the number of fatalities for a six-year period between April 1999 and 2005 have reduced from 404 to 279, compared to the same interval up to 2011.

Firefighters at Borehamwood Fire Station, in Elstree Way, believe educational programmes have played a major part in this.

A project called Crash Bang, which sees youth offenders cut out of a car in a simulated crash, has taught 104 young people the serious consequences of irresponsible driving, with only one participant known to have re-offended.

As firefighters prepare for another event in September, reporter Josh Darlington was invited by members of Borehamwood's white watch to experience being rescued from an overturned car.

The crew begin by stabilising the vehicle, in this case a red Vauxhall Corsa flipped on to its side, to avoid an unnecessary jolts or movement.

The crew then apply a neck brace to the injured party, before they strategically remove the roof using powerful hydraulic tools.

Glass and metal crunches around you, but firefighters work quickly and assuredly to keep you from harms way.

The simulation is an uncomfortable and nervy experience for the participant, and is disconcerting to think it only hints at the potential pain one might feel in a real crash.

It is obvious to anyone that goes through it how it works a massive and sobering deterrent to driving irresponsibly.

Speaking after the exercise, white watch commander Bob Williams said: “As the figures show, in Hertsmere we had 149 incidents between 2006 and 2009, of which nine were fatal. Our successes are quite above the average, but a number of these incidents involve a worrying amount of young males.

“Every year in the UK, around 800 people under the age of 24 die as a result of a road traffic collision. This figure is 300 per cent greater than the next biggest cause of death.

“With the busy road networks that we cover, it means educational programmes such as Crash Bang play a vitally important role in reducing these figures.”

The white watch crew who 'rescued' Josh Darlington were Dean Wright, Iain Yates, Mat Holland and Spencer Edwards.