

18.09.2014
Teachers in Leamington and Warwick have been asked to help by enlisting their pupils to design road safety banners for Road Safety Week, with the theme being "Look Out For Each Other," the Leamington Courier reports.
The paper printed a picture of two children - an 11-year-old and an eight-year-old - crossing a road and said these images can have more impact when juxtaposed with a banner designed by youngsters.
It is hoped the best posters will help make a difference to the number of people of all ages killed or injured on the roads every year.
Road Safety Week takes place from November 17th to 23rd and it will see the best designs from Warwickshire schools being unveiled. There will be 12 winners, designed by kids aged between four and 11, with the winners having their designs put up on display outside their schools' gates.
Winning schools will win a drawstring bag for each child and individual designers will get their own special personal awards.
The initiative is being backed by road safety charity Brake along with advertising and image company Recognition Express.
Nigel Topples, the managing director of the firm, said: “Recognition Express’ banner design competition offers a fun way for schools to get involved and share important road safety messages with their pupils and the wider community.
"We encourage schools across the country to take part and use the opportunity to plan lessons and activities surrounding Road Safety Week."
The most recent official road safety statistics for Warwickshire, published at the end of 2012, showed that there were 2,055 accidents in the county during that year, one per cent fewer than in 2011.
Of these, there were 29 deaths, down from 33 in the previous year, while the overall tally of those killed or seriously injured fell from 313 to 299.
Children In Warwickshire Involved In Road Safety Drive
Local schoolchildren in Warwickshire are getting involved in a road safety campaign by having a competition to create the best posters warning people of the dangers of careless driving.Teachers in Leamington and Warwick have been asked to help by enlisting their pupils to design road safety banners for Road Safety Week, with the theme being "Look Out For Each Other," the Leamington Courier reports.
The paper printed a picture of two children - an 11-year-old and an eight-year-old - crossing a road and said these images can have more impact when juxtaposed with a banner designed by youngsters.
It is hoped the best posters will help make a difference to the number of people of all ages killed or injured on the roads every year.
Road Safety Week takes place from November 17th to 23rd and it will see the best designs from Warwickshire schools being unveiled. There will be 12 winners, designed by kids aged between four and 11, with the winners having their designs put up on display outside their schools' gates.
Winning schools will win a drawstring bag for each child and individual designers will get their own special personal awards.
The initiative is being backed by road safety charity Brake along with advertising and image company Recognition Express.
Nigel Topples, the managing director of the firm, said: “Recognition Express’ banner design competition offers a fun way for schools to get involved and share important road safety messages with their pupils and the wider community.
"We encourage schools across the country to take part and use the opportunity to plan lessons and activities surrounding Road Safety Week."
The most recent official road safety statistics for Warwickshire, published at the end of 2012, showed that there were 2,055 accidents in the county during that year, one per cent fewer than in 2011.
Of these, there were 29 deaths, down from 33 in the previous year, while the overall tally of those killed or seriously injured fell from 313 to 299.
Expert Opinion
Campaigns such as Road Safety Week are vital in the promotion of road safety among all road users, whether motorists, cyclists, motorcyclists or pedestrians. The signs developed by children to support the campaign have been successful in ensuring road users consider their actions behind the wheel and continue to think about their role in keeping themselves and other safe. <br/> <br/>“However, all too often we see the devastating consequences of road accidents caused by a split second lapse in concentration. Many of our clients are left needing a lifetime of care and rehabilitation which could have been prevented if more care on the roads was taken by road users. Therefore, it is vital people take steps to improve road safety where possible in a bid to reduce the number of serious injuries and fatalities on the UK’s roads.”