Global Road Safety Week: a round up of activity

Road safety teams across the UK marked UN Global Road Safety Week 2013 (6-12 May) with a series of activities and initiatives focussing on the theme of pedestrian safety.

South Lanarkshire Council’s team organised a road safety calendar competition for all 152 schools within its area (pic left). The team also created a window display in the council shop to promote ‘Walk to School’.

In Haringey the road safety team distributed 20,000 leaflets across the borough’s schools (pic left). The team also distributed a quantity of the Street Feet road safety resource and is providing training sessions for KS1 teachers and nursery staff.

Schools in West Berkshire who correctly answered a pedestrian safety word-search were entered into a draw to win 30 high-viz jackets for their school.

In Rochdale (pic left) the casualty reduction team and local fire and rescue service teamed up to talk to parents at a local primary school about various issues including parking in the wrong place, seat belts, child car seats and the School Crossing Patrol. The F&RS mascot, Cracker the dog, was on hand to meet parents and children as they arrived at school. 

Nationally, in the run up to the week, Road Safety GB ran the FootPrints photography competition with the winners decided by public vote during the week itself. The winners will be announced during w/comm 20/5/13.

Road Safety GB also showcased five of the UK’s established pedestrian safety initiatives in a series of features that ran on the road safety newsfeed throughout the week.

Road Safety GB and TRL also combined forces to organise a pedestrian safety seminar at TRL’s headquarters on 8 May; the event was fully subscribed.

FootPrints also ran locally in West Berkshire, Wokingham and Bracknell, and the local fire and rescue service supported an event at Newbury library where the winners were chosen by public vote.

The Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) coordinated a series of activities up and down the country to help mark the week.

Crews from Aylesbury, Amersham and High Wycombe staged road safety displays at local colleges and universities; fire-fighters in Buckingham delivered a road safety talk and crash demonstration at a local secondary school; crews from High Wycombe staged a road safety display at homes fixtures involving Wycombe Wanderes FC and London Wasps RFC; Hampshire FRS supported local Junior Road Safety Officers using the ‘let’s look out for each other’ theme; crews from Kent staged crash demonstrations and handed out leaflets across the county; West Sussex FRS staged an event in Crawley town centre; and Oxfordshire FRS supported a range of events on pedestrians and distractions and used the Footsteps child pedestrian training guide for parents and children.

What happened in your area? Tell us about activity in your local area and we will run another summary during the course of next week. Send details to John Dawson or ring 01379 650112.