As part of their Life Skills education, Year 11 students recently watched an evocative production that confronts the issues of excessive speed, peer pressure and attitudes amongst young drivers - entitled 'Legal Weapon'

Ape Theatre - in conjunction with East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service - are currently targeting students with documentary plays that are effective in delivering the message about drugs and driving, drink driving and excessive speed

The aim of the plays is to deliver them in such a way as to capture the imagination, encourage thought and discussion, and to leave a memorable impression

'Legal Weapon' is part fact and part fiction and tells the story of a sixth-form couple Andy & Jazz, whose romance and happiness includes a holiday at Butlins, exams and brushes with the law for speeding

After the death of his grandfather Andy spends his inheritance on a powerful car, fails his exams and continues to think that he is unstoppable

Meanwhile Jazz who has worked hard goes to University and begins to leave Andy and her previous life behind. It is a this point that all the characters’ lives are turned upside down forever when Andy kills a moped-rider, his girlfriend’s best friend in a high-speed crash and is imprisoned for the crime

It is the aim of ESFRS to show students that they need to combine newly acquired skills with a safe, responsible attitude towards driving if they are not to put themselves and other vulnerable road users at risk

This drama, combined with the game show workshop that followed, emphasised the fact that driving skills alone are not enough to keep young newly qualified drivers out of danger