Schoolchildren watched harrowing footage of a road accident as part of a campaign to promote safe driving.

Students gathered at Millfield Theatre, in Silver Street, Edmonton, to see the film about a fictitious crash specially prepared to show roads and hospitals familiar to local students.

The film was the work of road safety group Safe Drive Stay Alive, which shows films and presentations to young people on the trauma of car crashes and the effects.

Enfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for environment and community safety, Councillor Chris Bond, said: “This play is incredibly hard hitting and gives the audience a short sharp shock.

"We are very keen to encourage young drivers to behave responsibly behind the wheel of a car in an effort to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries caused on our roads and an important part of that is encouraging the passengers to encourage drivers not to drive like idiots.

“Most young people are safe and responsible drivers, but there are a small minority who get their kicks by driving excessively fast and showing off to their mates and girlfriends.

"Our message is that driving responsibly will significantly reduce your chances of being in an accident and seriously injuring yourself and your mates. And you are also far less likely to get stopped by the police and being banned from driving for driving like a cretin.”

In 2012/13, 15 young people aged between 16 and 25 were seriously injured in road accidents and one was killed.

The project has been run for the past seven years.