GoSafe, the partnership that delivers road safety education across Wales, has introduced virtual reality films as part of its Operation Atal programme, which runs road safety sessions in schools and engages with drivers on the roadside. Funded by the Welsh Government and delivered with the police and fire and rescue services, the programme now includes VR content aimed at motorcyclists and young drivers, two groups disproportionately represented in collision statistics across Wales.
Welsh Government funding enabled four VR films to be produced for the initiative. By combining real-life scenarios with storytelling, the films aim to influence behaviour, improve hazard awareness, and reduce the number of serious and fatal collisions on Welsh roads.
The VR content launched publicly on 24 September 2026, when Deputy Minister for Transport Mark Hooper visited Tonyrefail Community School. Pupils and the Deputy Minister took part in the Alive Five VR experience, and pupils also joined a police engagement session on illegal e-bike and e-scooter use. A separate screen-based motorcycle simulator, on loan from Devon and Cornwall Police, was also demonstrated at the launch.
Each of Wales's three Fire and Rescue Service areas now holds a set of VR goggles, helping ensure the resource can be used across the country.
I'm pleased to be here today to see how innovative technology is being used to support road safety education. Virtual reality provides an immersive way of helping young people understand risk, build hazard awareness and make safer choices on our roads. Young drivers and motorcyclists remain disproportionately represented in serious collisions across Wales. Initiatives such as Operation Atal are important because they focus on prevention, helping people recognise risks before tragedy occurs.— Mark Hooper, Deputy Minister for Transport, Welsh Government
These new VR resources provide a powerful way to engage young drivers and riders, helping them recognise risks and make safer decisions. Education and prevention are key to making Wales's roads safer for everyone.— Tom Moore, Detective Superintendent, Head of GoSafe
