Pupils at Wootton Community Primary School have taken an innovative approach to Road Safety Week (17th to 23rd November) by creating ‘Speed Scarecrows’ to raise awareness about road safety in their community.
Councillor Sarah Redrup, coordinator of the Wootton Bridge Speedwatch Group, led workshops with Year 5 and 6 pupils, helping them create scarecrows wearing hi-visibility jackets to resemble Community Speedwatch volunteers. The scarecrows are now being displayed in gardens throughout Wootton Bridge during Road Safety Week.
Redrup: Some pupils had personal experiences of road accidents and injuries
Councillor Redrup said,
“Even at the ages of 9-11, pupils were already well aware of how dangerous our roads can be.
“Some pupils told me they had personal experiences of road accidents and injuries.
“During Road Safety Week, our speedwatch group wanted to raise awareness of the impact speeding can have in our community.”
Concerning statistics
The initiative comes at a crucial time, as UK road safety statistics remain alarming. Every year, more than 1,700 people die on UK roads, with an additional 30,000 suffering serious, life-changing injuries.
Most concerningly, more than six children are killed on UK roads every day.
Wilford: A fun reminder for all drivers to ‘slow down’
Jane Wilford, Head Teacher of Wootton Community Primary School said,
“We were delighted to be asked to support Sarah with making of the road safety high-vis scarecrows for Wootton.
“Many of our children walk to school and home and we work hard to teach them road safety.
“Sadly due to inappropriate parking near school and/or speeding traffic several of our children have experienced a ‘near miss’ and we are therefore so keen that drivers in Wootton are safe to keep our school children safe.
“We hope the scarecrows will be a fun reminder for all drivers to ‘slow down’!”
Launched with six volunteers
The Wootton Bridge Community Speedwatch Group, launched this year with six volunteers, is part of a wider network of successful speedwatch groups across the Isle of Wight, including Freshwater, Chillerton, Rookley, and Godshill.
Community Speed Watch is an educational scheme enabling volunteers to work within their community to raise awareness of the dangers of speeding and help control the problem locally. Volunteers commit approximately four hours per month to help keep their community’s roads safe.
Redrup: Looking for volunteers to help us keep Wootton’s roads safe
Councillor Redrup explained
“The Wootton Community Speedwatch Group are one of many established groups on the Island working to monitor speeds on roads where people live.
“If you can spare four hours a month, we are looking for volunteers to help us keep Wootton’s roads safe!”
Road Safety Week, organized by charity Brake, is the UK’s biggest road safety campaign, bringing together thousands of schools, organisations, and communities to share important road safety messages and remember those affected by road deaths and injuries.
Interested in joining?
Those interested in joining the Community Speedwatch Group can contact Councillor Sarah Redrup at [email protected] or visit the Wootton Bridge Parish Council offices on Brannon Way.
News shared by Sarah in her own words. Ed
