HE IS the champion of all things motoring and soon he will be driving into Hampshire in a bid to make roads safer.

Motoring expert and former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson has been unveiled as the special guest at this year’s Blue Lamp Trust’s annual conference.

Backed by the Daily Echo, the charity hosts the road safety extravaganza every year as they drive home the importance of safe driving for all Hampshire businesses.

Quentin will provide the keynote speech at the event, which will be held at the Hampshire Fire and Rescue headquarters, in Eastleigh.

Last year’s conference saw the Original Stig – former Formula One driver Perry McCarthy from BBC’s Top Gear – take to the stage as special guest, to make a heartfelt plea for people to drive safely.

As well as a talk from Quentin Willson, this year’s conference will feature a live crash scene demonstration, which will see firefighters, police and paramedics working together to cut motorists free from the wreckage of a road traffic accident.

Jim Bettley, general manager of The Blue Lamp Trust, said: “We are delighted to welcome Quentin as our guest speaker. He is known around the world for being an avowed champion of all things motoring and knows first-hand just how important safety is on the road.

“This year’s conference is really set to highlight to businesses the advantages of adopting our eco-safe driving style and the consequences of unsafe driving practices.”

He added: “Our mission is to make Hampshire’s roads safer by educating businesses about the risks of driving at work and to train their staff to drive more safely.

“We also aim to help directors develop their driving at work policies to keep them within the law.”

The trust was set up by the police and the fire service to promote safety in the community.

Profit from a range of driver training programmes is reinvested into the running of the Bobby Scheme, which provides home safety and security for the vulnerable and elderly across Hampshire.

The conference on May 15 is free and aimed at employers, directors, HR managers and health and safety managers.

To reserve a place at the event email info@bluelamptrust..org.uk.