Government teams up with football clubs to promote road safety

Date: 22/11/2010

The Government's THINK! project has joined forces with four football teams to deliver a new scheme intended to raise children's awareness of road safety issues.

Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United will help organise activities in their after-school clubs and on match days for six to 11-year-olds, Road Safety Minister Mike Penning announced today (November 22nd).

Mr Penning said although Britain's roads are among the safest in the world, last year 31 children were killed or seriously injured every week.

Therefore, new ways of getting the message across to youngsters are needed, to ensure "they are given the skills they need to keep themselves safe on the roads as they grow up and gain independence," he continued.

This new scheme will hopefully improve children's knowledge and confidence and reduce the number of tragedies in the UK, Mr Penning added.

Recently, primary school children in Bradford dressed up as police officers in an exercise designed to educate parents on the importance of parking safely outside schools.

Posted by Sarah Bailey