ARTISTIC KIDS GIVE COLOUR TO ROAD SAFETY INITIATIVE
Creative pupils at East Wittering Community Primary School have given a colourful public face to a new national road safety initiative.
Ten year old Emilie Belcher and nine year old Oliver Mitchell were the winners of a competition to design a logo and a poster for the on-line safety programme devised by Chichester based E-Training World.
The idea of the instructive learning system came from E-Training World managing director Graham Hurdle, whose seven year old daughter goes to East Wittering Community Primary, after no replacement was found for their retiring Lolly Pop person and national spending cuts have seen the forced removal of the crossing patrol outside schools in many counties across the UK.
“I am very passionate about road safety and have been involved in promoting it for more than 20 years. Our local school has lost its crossing patrol and my wife recently witnessed an incident where a child was almost run over - so it has brought home to us how important it is to teach young people how to be responsible when walking near a road, cycling or travelling in a vehicle.”
Pupils at the school trialled the programme so it was appropriate that they should be asked to have their say on road safety through art.
“I am delighted at how enthusiastic the children have been about our road safety for kids programme. Ever since first showing them the online system they have given us their ideas and I’m sure this is going to be equally well received in schools and other youth organisations throughout the UK.
“Congratulations to Emilie Belcher who created a poster and Oliver Mitchell who designed the logo and well done to all of those who entered – we had an excellent selection of ideas and designs to choose from,” said Graham as he handed them each their prizes of a £50 HMV voucher, a framed copy of the poster and a pen with the Road Safety for Kids logo on.
“From the feedback and support we’re having from the broader road safety community I believe this system will be a huge benefit to kids all across the country,” added Graham who has made it available free to every child in the country.
The programme takes the form of a special inter-active on-line quiz that is designed to highlight to children, aged from five to 15, the dangers of Britain’s roads.
It covers a wide range of topics such as: what to do when crossing the road, wearing high visibility clothing at night, correct behaviour on a school bus, the dangers of being distracted by using a mobile phone or iPod while walking along a road, wearing a safety helmet while cycling and the legal requirements for children wearing seat-belts in cars.
After selecting their answer, children are instantly told if they are correct or not and then given an explanation of the correct answer. The subjects covered are based around some of the highest risk areas for young children as pedestrians or car passengers.
PHOTO: Graham Hurdle presents prizes to road safety poster winners Emilie Belcher and nine year old Oliver Mitchell.
To promote road safety in your school or youth club, you can obtain a copy of the winning poster at www.e-trainingworld.com.Simply click on the Yellow Tab and then on the poster.