Schools’ safety message sets a world record

RECORD-breakers . . . pupils from Clarksfield Primary School form a walking bus

LOCAL youngsters played their part in setting a new world record by attempting to put the brakes on speeding drivers.

Pupils from Clarksfield Primary and Yew Tree Community schools formed a giant walking bus to get the message across to motorists.

The event, organised by national road-safety charity Brake, aimed to raise awareness of the number of children hurt or killed in traffic accidents each year.

More than 135,000 children around the UK took part in the walking-bus challenge, breaking the previous record of 119,697 set in 2009.

In the North-West, 1,403 child pedestrians are hurt by traffic each year and nationally, an average of six children are injured every day.

A Brake survey of 1,500 parents found that more than half thought the road where they lived was plagued by speeding traffic and almost three-quarters would favour a 20mph limit outside their home.

Mary Williams, chief executive of the charity, said: “Brake supports families whose children have been killed or catastrophically maimed by speeding drivers.

“Yet these tragedies can be so easily prevented by drivers slowing down in built-up areas.

“At 20mph or lower, drivers stand a good chance of stopping in time if a child runs out three car lengths in front.

“At speeds of 30mph and above, drivers can barely slow down before impact.

“You never know when a child might make a mistake and run out and slower driving could save their life.

“Brake urges all communities to support the Giant Walking Bus by slowing down today, tomorrow and for ever.”