Plan to cut child road deaths (From Barry And District News)

Plan to cut child road deaths

BARRY children's shocking lack of basic road safety knowledge is being tackled head on with a unique new scheme.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council has launched the Traffic Club in a bid to stop accidents on the town's busy highways.

Aimed at three to five year olds, the project gives children advice on how to keep safe on the roads in a fun and accessible way. They also receive books, and other promotional items, to promote learning through play.

Local authority road safety officer, Mike Dacey, launched scheme on Monday, September 23, at the St Francis Millennium Centre, in Porth-y-Castell. He was joined by clinical nurse specialist in accident prevention, Beverley Smith, and local health visitor Deryn Grigg.

Mike told the News: "In recent years there has been a significant reduction in the numbers of children who walk to school or who regularly use pedestrian routes, which means that many children are unaware of basic road safety rules."

The Traffic Club is great for kids and there is also useful information for parents who want to know the best way to educate their children on the dangers of the roads." Beverley added: "The Vale of Glamorgan Council has funded the scheme, working as a joint venture with the Cardiff and Vale Trust. The scheme is also promoted by local health visitors. And because it's free, parents living on a budget will not be excluded."

Similar schemes, run in Scandinavian countries, have seen a massive reduction in road deaths.

Mike said: "This scheme starts when toddlers are three years old taking them up to about four and a half years old, when they start school.

"Hopefully it will stop problems later on in childhood, and the teenage years, when youngsters become more adventurous."

l For more information on the pack, contact the Vale of Glamorgan Council's road safety team on 01446 704774 or visit the website at www.Traffic.Club.org