Students register interest in new road safety awards

28,000 students have already registered their intention to participate in the Student Road Safety Awards, according to the organiser Paul Kerr.

Mr Kerr developed the Student Road Safety Awards after his 17-year-old son Jon-Paul was killed in a traffic accident involving an 18-year-old driver, who had passed his test only a fortnight earlier.

The Student Road Safety Awards are supported by a number of high profile organisations and individuals including the DfT, Peugeot, RoSPA and the motoring journalist and broadcaster Quentin Wilson.

The scheme, which will run in 38 BBC local radio areas across England, has been developed to encourage students aged 11-18 years to create projects to raise awareness of road safety in a suitable way for their age group.

Students aged 11-15 years have an open brief and can address any road safety topics, while those aged 16-18 years can choose either mobile phones or speed.

Entries will initially be judged regionally, with winning entries going forward to the national final. The winning projects will be submitted to the DfT as a potential road safety campaign.

Stephen Hammond MP, Under Secretary of State for Transport, said: “This is a very exciting and hugely important road safety initiative.

“Young people are our future drivers and I believe that empowering them with a sense of responsibility from an early age will help drive down fatalities and serious injuries on UK roads.

“I am confident that this scheme has the potential to be a great success and I wish all who enter it the best of luck. I would also like to pay a special thanks to Paul Kerr, who has campaigned tirelessly to make this happen.”

For more information contact Paul Kerr on 01926 403212 or visit: www.studentroadsafetyawards.co.uk