Primary school leavers in St Helens Borough have become equipped to starting a more independent secondary school life after receiving free sustainable travel material from St Helens Borough Council’s Road Safety Team.
Distributed to a total of 1,600 pupils, the Way2Go magazine includes all the important information needed when taking the big leap from primary school to high school – from route planning, to getting to and from school safely.
Parents and carers have also benefited from access to an online guide called ‘Moving Up’ which has been shared with schools.
Melanie Burrows, Road Safety Team Leader for St Helens Borough Council, said:
“National statistics show that pupils in Years 7-9 are, sadly, three times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in road traffic collisions than those in Year 4-6, which is why we felt it necessary to provide resources like this to assist our young people as they embark on the next stage of their journey through education.
“Starting high school can often mean young people are given a lot more independence, whether it’s walking, cycling or getting the bus to school on their own – not to mention being allowed out more after school – so it’s absolutely crucial they are reminded of the importance of road safety.”
Councillor Andy Bowden, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, added: “The importance of road safety can never be over-emphasised – and it’s vital that we engage with children as early as possible.
“Our Road Safety Team do a fantastic job, working with local schools to get children and young people thinking about road safety, discussing it with their friends, coming up with new ideas to promote it – and resources like this are such an essential tool in helping them as they begin to start experiencing the world on their own more.”
St Helens Borough Council’s Road Safety Team – under normal circumstances – work with dozens of schools across the borough during the academic year on a number of projects, including the Junior Road Safety Officer initiative, which sees Year 5 and 6 pupils take part in workshops and come up with campaigns to further improve road safety education in their community and borough as a whole.
Meanwhile, as part of a more region-wide approach to addressing road safety, the team forms part of the Merseyside Road Safety Partnership, working with the likes of Merseyside Police on enforcement operations and engagement events on various issues such as child car seats, seat belts, mobile phones, excessive speed – and information to cyclists and senior road users.
For more information, email roadsafety@sthelens.gov.uk
*PHOTO TAKEN AT A JUNIOR ROAD SAFETY OFFICER PRESENTATION EVENT IN JUNE 2019
