Launch of Southampton's Junior Road Safety Officer Scheme

I was very pleased this morning to be part of the launch of Southampton's Junior Road Safety Officer scheme at the Saints football ground.

Southampton City council, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and Hampshire Constabulary officers were joined by pupils and staff from Harefield, Oakwood, Bitterne Manor, St Swithun Wells and Bassett Green schools.

The scheme has been piloted over the last few months by 6 year 6 pupils from Harefield who have been engaged in projects to raise awareness of road safety, cycling and green travel amongst their classmates. They have been doing assemblies, running competitions and designing posters to communicate with children and their parents.

In January volunteers from a host of other schools will sign up to the new initiative and next Summer they will compete against schools from North and South Hampshire and Portsmouth in a Champion of Champions competition run by the fire service to determine which is the best school in the county at improving the safety of children travelling to and from school.