A Cardiff primary school has been chosen to launch a national road safety charity’s campaign as part of Road Safety Week this week.
Ninian Park Primary School in Grangetown will host Brake’s Welsh launch of the campaign today (Tuesday November 23) which aims to raise awareness of road safety issues and calls for drivers to reduce their speed in local roads to safeguard pedestrians.
Two children from the Grangetown school have already been knocked down and the school is actively encouraging drivers to think about their actions and kill their speed rather than a child.
Road Safety Week is an annual event co-ordinated by Brake which runs this week (from November 22 -28) A survey published this week shows that nine in 10 children in Wales say drivers go too fast in their neighbourhood and one in eight children have already been knocked down.
Four-year-old Riaz Uddin, of Ninian Park Primary School, was knocked down outside the school as he was collected by his uncle Shamim Mohammed earlier this year. Riaz and Shamim were knocked down by a car as they stepped onto the crossing and were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Cardiff Council’s own road safety team works closely with schools across the city, offering training and demonstrations to children on the importance of road safety. The team organises annual Walk to School weeks and events to encourage children to walk to school together safely and are also responsible for the operation of school crossing patrols in the city.
Executive Member for Traffic and Transportation, Cllr Delme Bowen, said: “Too many children every day are knocked down by drivers who are driving too fast or without due care in our communities. Unfortunately Ninian Park Primary knows first hand the consequences of these actions but it’s fantastic to see the staff and children there taking a stand, calling for drivers to slow down and make their communities a safer place to live.”
Ninian Park headteacher Ferne Davies said: “The staff, pupils and governors in Ninian Park Primary have been promoting road safety to parents and the local community. With the support of Cardiff’s road safety team, pupils across the school have been taught the knowledge and skills to help them keep themselves safe in the busy, city environment. This is not enough, we need all drivers to observe the warning signs near schools, think ‘children on the move’ and react by driving with heightened awareness. Everyone has a responsibility to help keep our youngsters safe. Slowing down saves lives.”
For more information about Brake and Road Safety Week visit www.roadsafetyweek.org
