THERE was drama all the way at Friday night’s Road Safety Initiative held by the Central Fife Crime Prevention and Community Safety Panel, in partnership with the emergency services.

The idea behind the three hour evening event was to give the public an idea of how the police, fire and ambulance services deal with serious accidents.

A major display was mounted on the Central Park stock car track where a fatal accident had occurred.

Police, fire and ambulance teams were quickly on the scene and they soon had the stricken car opened up to get the injured accident victims free from the wreckage of one of the cars.

But as they firefighters were finishing off their work there was a call out to a fire.

They had to quickly pack up their gear and head for Cardenden where a blaze had broken out at Bowhill Swimming Pool (see separate article).

But it did not spoil the display, just added that bit more drama for the 250 strong group of spectators.

The accident display was the main event of the evening but there were a whole host of static displays in the pit area of the Cowdenbeath Racewall.

There was a driving simulator to allow drivers to test their skills, a video showing real accidents and the impact they cause, and a ‘beer goggle’ demonstration, which challenged people to walk wearing beer goggles showing what it is like when under the influence. A police traffic car proved interesting to younger visitors as did fire appliances and a Military Police car.

The Crime Prevention and Community Safety Panel and the International Fire and Rescue both staged displays which allowed the public to see how they help promote community safety and fighting crime locally and sending equipment and training firefighters all over the world, respectively.

The panel also sold a considerable number of alarms which protect property and people.

The weather in the main was kind to the event although a shower hit the arena before the accident display and the panel officials were pleased with the way things went. Chairman Lenny Linton said, “It was good to get the emergency services here together and showing the expertise that goes into dealing with accidents.

“It certainly brought that wee bit extra drama into the evening when the fire service was called to a blaze, but that can always happen.” Vice chairman Colin Bird, who spent many hours in the organistion of the event, was pleased with the way the evening progressed and helped direct the fire engines off the track and on their way to the call.