A marathon week of Junior Roadwatch was delivered at five schools across Barnet during Road Safety Week 2023.
The Junior Roadwatch sessions were designed to tie in with the theme for Road Safety Week 2023, ‘Let’s talk about Speed’.
A total of 132 Year 5 and Year 6 pupils took part in seven sessions held at All Saints, St Pauls, St Vincents, Sunnyfields and Whitings Hill primary schools.
Each session began with a classroom discussion about the importance of motorists keeping to the speed limit, and why this matters to pedestrians like themselves. Members of Barnet’s road safety team explained to pupils that the speed limit is not a target and should never be exceeded.
Smaller groups of children then went outside with police officers who used a speed gun to detect speeding motorists. Once a motorist was flagged down for exceeding the limit, they were given the option of a penalty or facing the children and answering their questions.
Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, who attended one of the sessions said: “Speeding is a factor in nearly half of the fatalities on London’s roads.
“I was delighted to join colleagues from the Met Police and Barnet Council for the Junior Roadwatch operation at Whiting Hills Primary – helping to reduce speeding near the school and raising awareness during National Road Safety Week.”
A total of 40 motorists were stopped for going over the speed limit, with the worst offender travelling at 39mph in a 20mph zone. The transgressors were informed that an average speed reduction of 1mph reduces crash frequency by 5%.
A staff member from Whitings Hill School said: “I didn’t get the chance to say thank-you for all the work you put in to the two days at Whitings Hill. Massive appreciation from all here.
“I have spoken with the children and they really enjoyed the sessions.”
Hi Hugh, I agree! I’m the Barnet Road Safety Officer who delivered these sessions. We asked the motorists what had the biggest impact, 1 person said being stopped by the police, 22 people speaking to the children and 15 people said both. 36 motorists said the scheme was very effective, 3 said it was somewhat effective and no-one said it wasn’t effective. It is also a great platform for raising road safety awareness with the children at the same time, making them aware that motorists make mistakes.
Sharada Osman, London
+1
It’s very humbling for a driver to explain to children why he/she were speeding and is more likely to make them think and change their behaviour, than perhaps being spoken to by the police.
Hugh Jones, Cheshire
+2