Glo Week Takes Place Between 29th October And 2nd November

The success of Glow Day has led to the creation of Glo Week, an initiative set up by the Child Brain Injury Trust.

The aim of the week is to help highlight road safety awareness, particularly among young road users. It encourages road users and pedestrians to wear their brightest clothes as a reminder to be conscious of remaining visible as the nights grow longer, to reduce the risk of any accidents during winter.

Lawyers from Irwin Mitchell’s Leeds office have regularly supported the Child Brain Injury Trust, and Glo Week is no exception.

Alan Ball, a serious injury specialist at Irwin Mitchell’s Leeds office, visited Leeds General Infirmary with Carmel Gallagher, Regional Child and Family Support Co-Ordinator at Child Brain Injury Trust.

The pair set up a stall at the Leeds Children’s Hospital, Clarendon Wing, to raise awareness, set a good example and demonstrate road safety to patients, parents and visitors promoting a simple message ‘Be Seen and Not Hurt.’

Alan said: 

Expert Opinion

“At Irwin Mitchell, we see first-hand the devastating impact, long or short-term, the injuries sustained in road accidents can have. That is why we are proud to support Child Brain Injury Trust’s Glo Week initiative.

“Seeing this impact is why we are passionate about getting the message about road safety out there to children to ensure they know how to keep themselves safe when walking or cycling in the winter.” Alan Ball - Associate Solicitor

In addition to this visit the Child Brain Injury Trust has also visited Allerton Primary in Alwoodley and will be visiting St. Oswald’s in Bradford on Bonfire Night.

Carmel Gallagher, Regional Child and Family Support Co-Ordinator at Child Brain Injury Trust, said: “Due to the growing success of ‘Glow Day’, we have expanded it to Glo Week!

“We are delighted to be able to raise awareness and prevent accidents by encouraging children to wear bright and fluorescent clothing when the clocks go back and nights get darker earlier.”

“We have had a great response from firms like Irwin Mitchell who have been helping to support this initiative in their local area and raise more awareness of road safety amongst young people.

"With the clocks having recently gone back, many children will now be travelling to or from school in the dark, which is why it is so important we are able to go into schools and provide information about road safety at this time of year.”

The Child Brain Injury Trust is a charity that supports children, young people, their families and professionals after brain injury. They have put together the following simple tips to teach children and young people about road safety:

• Always hold a child’s hand when walking near a road
• Always choose a safe place to cross roads, i.e. zebra, pelican or toucan crossing
• Explain to children it is not safe where they can’t see far along the road
• Use the Green Cross Code with children
• Ensure to keep looking and listening for traffic when it is safe to cross the road
• Always use zebra or light controlled crossing if available
• Always walk on the pavement, never stray onto the road
• Where there is no pavement, walk in single file on the right hand side of the road.

This year they have especially highlighted the need for older children and teenagers to continue to practise road safety skills which include:

• Keeping your eyes on the road not on your mobile phone
• Turning down the volume on headphones and earbuds so that you can still hear traffic
• Always wear a helmet when cycling.

For more information about Child Brain Injury Trust and ‘Glow Day’ or to donate, please visit www.childbraininjurytrust.org.uk

Read about Irwin Mitchell's road accident cases.