THE Honest Truth road safety campaign – formed in the aftermath of a crash on Aveton Gifford hill that cost three young lives – is going international.

The Honest Truth is a road safety education partnership between Devon and Cornwall Police, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, professional driving instructors and local authorities.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said it was formed in 2010 following the accident in Aveton Gifford, which claimed three young people and had a devastating effect on the local community.

'Since then the project has gone from strength to strength, winning numerous awards and working with increasing numbers of road safety partnerships and driving instructors across the United Kingdom.

'Now its strengths are being recognised internationally.'

Devon and Cornwall Police Sergeant Olly Tayler and station officer Rob Carlson from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service were invited recently by Romanian traffic police in the Calarasi district of Romania to talk about the campaign.

They spent three days ­presenting the Honest Truth

to a mixture of audiences, including police, young people, driving instructors, road

safety professionals and local ­stakeholders.

Shortly afterwards they

met Costin-Titel Tatuc, chief commissioner for the road directorate at the General Inspectorate of Romanian Police and a council member of the European Traffic Police Network.

Having consulted with ­colleagues in the Calarasi ­district, chief commissioner Costin-Titel Tatuc contacted Sgt Tayler to say that Romanian traffic police were interested in using the Honest Truth as a national campaign.

Sgt Tayler, who is the current chair of the partnership, said: 'We met local traffic police in Romania to discuss the idea of working in partnership with other agencies to achieve the common goal of improving road safety for young people.

'This was an approach that hadn't occurred to many of them before.

'Partnership working is one of the main strengths of the Honest Truth, and we're absolutely delighted that our colleagues in Romania have seen the real benefits and are keen to explore this approach not just locally, but nationally.'

Rob Carlson of the Devon and Somerset Fire Service said: 'The campaign and its messages were very well-received. One high-school teacher stood up at the end of a meeting and said that it was exactly what Romania needed to improve road safety.

'While the Honest Truth focuses on young drivers, the messages are relevant to all of us. The issues associated with poor decision-making behind the wheel, whether this is caused by alcohol, drugs or simply peer pressure, is not unique to the UK.

'It's a problem in every ­country across the world and we hope that more European countries will use the partnership model and messages of the campaign.'

The campaign is being ­delivered in 11 road safety ­partnership areas in the UK, and interest in the Honest Truth has been shown now by 12 European countries and a ­further 10 road safety partnerships across the UK.

Its messages around safe and responsible driving are delivered directly to young people via more than 1,400 driving instructors who have signed up to the scheme across the UK.

For more information on the Honest Truth, visit: http://www.the">www.the honesttruth.co.uk.