Children helping classmates to steer clear of accidents on North East Lincolnshire's roads

CHILDREN are leading the campaign to keep their classmates safe on the borough's roads.

Six pupils from three local primary schools have been appointed junior road safety officers (JRSOs) to help drive down the number of accidents involving young people.

Ten children were injured in road accidents in North East Lincolnshire in 2010, which is the latest year for which statistics are available. It's the lowest figure for more than five years.

However, at 63.6 casualties per million of the population, the accident rate was still higher than the nationwide figure of 41.9.

Lewis Phillips and Ellie Smith, pictured, are the two JRSOs at Scartho Junior Academy. They were chosen for the role from a shortlist of about ten pupils.

The pair have been going into classes to give presentations on how to stay safe when walking or cycling to and from school.

They have also been running quizzes on road safety and issuing high-visibility vests to pupils.

Lewis, 11, said: "I quite like cycling and going out for walks and I thought it would be good to promote safety.

"We go round the classes and talk to them. "When it was snowing recently we gave a talk about safety in bad weather and showed pictures of cars skidding."

Ellie, 10, said: "We do different competitions. Last time we did a general quiz and we gave out prizes like high-vis jackets and pens."

Her main advice to her fellow pupils is: "Make eye contact with the driver, don't rush across the road and be careful."

Lewis added: "Stop, look and listen."

Also taking part in the scheme are Cameron Hargreaves and Freya Hadley of Waltham Leas Academy, and Brooke Harrington and Edison Kirkham, of New Waltham Academy.

All the pupils have been working hard on a series of campaigns since they were chosen for the roles by councillor Peter Wheatley, portfolio holder for regeneration and environment, in November last year.

In particular they have focused on the recent spell of wintry weather, organising quizzes and holding assemblies to offer advice to their fellow pupils about how to stay safe in the dark, cold and icy conditions.

The pupils from New Waltham Academy have teamed up with New Waltham Parish Council and local residents in a bid to tackle illegal parking issues around their school.

Parents often park on double-yellow lines in a bid to get as close to the school gate as possible, causing congestion and increasing the risk of collisions.

Pupils could soon be teaming up with the council's civil parking enforcement officers in a bid to clamp down on the problem.

---

Number of children injured in road accidents in North East Lincolnshire:

2005: 18

2006: 25

2007: 18

2008: 16

2009: 17

2010: 10

Number of child casualties by ward (Jan 2006 to June 2011):

1. Waltham: 6

2. Scartho: 17

3. Freshney: 19

4. Haverstoe: 23

5. Humberston & New Waltham: 26

6. Wolds: 28

7. Immingham: 31

8. Yarborough: 35

9. Croft Baker: 36

10. West Marsh: 41

11. South: 47

12. Park: 49

13. Heneage: 57

14. Sidney Sussex: 61

15. East Marsh: 62

Number of child pedestrian casualties by ward (Jan 2006 to June 2011):

1. Waltham: 1

2 = Scartho: 2

2 = Wolds: 2

4. Immingham: 4

5 = Freshney: 5

5 = Humberston & New Waltham: 5

7. Yarborough: 6

8. Haverstoe: 9

9. Park: 15

10. West Marsh: 18

11. Croft Baker: 20

12. South: 22

13. Sidney Sussex: 24

14. Heneage: 28

15. East Marsh: 30