Be safe and be seen walk to school promotion
Released: 15 October 2007
Wolverhampton pupils will join schools right across the UK and almost 40 other countries worldwide to mark International Walk to School Month during October.
All nursery, infant, junior and primary schools in Wolverhampton have been invited to take part in the city’s Travel Tribe scheme as part of the global initiative.
Travel Tribe is the road safety team’s incentive scheme which rewards children who walk to school for either all or part of their journey.
All schools taking part in the scheme have received posters, wall charts, reward cards and stickers. Children across the city will be encouraged to walk to school wherever possible and collect stickers as they go.
The stickers will then be able to be exchanged for bronze, silver, and gold certificates at the end of the month, depending upon how much walking the children have done.
The road safety team are also using this opportunity to promote their annual Be Safe Be Seen message. British Summer Time ends on Sunday 28 October, when clocks will be put back one hour at 2am.
This change means that it will get darker earlier in the evening, when children may still be out and about across the city. Parents and children are therefore being encouraged to wear something bright when out and about to ensure that they can be seen as the nights draw in even further.
Councillor Peter Bilson, Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise, said: “International Walk to School Month provides a fantastic opportunity to highlight the benefits of walking to school.
“Walking gives parents and carers the chance to teach children vital road safety skills, the time can also be used to discuss the local environment and it is excellent exercise.
“It will be great to see children in Wolverhampton getting involved in the range of activities that have been organised during the month.
I would also encourage parents and children alike to wear something bright as the nights draw in this will help ensure they stay safe whilst out and about across the city”, he added.
Over 50% of children don't walk to school regularly.
International Walk to School Week in 2006 was supported by children from 40 countries, worldwide. More information on the International Walk to School movement can be found at the International Walk to School website.
The National Walk to School Campaign is jointly run by Travel Wise and Living Streets, with support from the Department for Transport and Transport for London.
The campaign, which promotes walking activities and the benefits of walking throughout the year, includes Walk to School Week in May, International Walk to School Month in October, and WoW (Walk on Wednesdays) in which children earn rewards for walking at least once a week.
More information on the UK Walk to School Campaign can be found at the Walk to School website.
Top tips for local parents wanting to keep their children safe on the roads in the winter are:
• Make sure that you child can be easily seen, especially at night, on dark days and in bad weather.
• Explain to your child why they should always wear something bright.
• Bright or fluorescent clothes show up best by day, especially in dull or misty weather.
• By night, reflective material is best and shows up in car headlights – remember, fluorescent clothing doesn’t work after dark.
• It is an offence to cycle at night without a white front light, a red back light, and a red reflector at the back, so make sure that your child’s bike is properly equipped and working.
For any further information please contact Paul Lever, Senior Road Safety Officer, on 01902 551790.
Issued by the press office.