Billericay pupils benefit from ‘blind spot training’

More than 100 pupils from a Billericay junior school have received two-pronged advice to help them stay safe when cycling in the vicinity of lorries, courtesy of the Safer Essex Roads Partnership’s road safety team.

The year 6 pupils from Buttsbury Junior School attended a special assembly to discuss heavy goods vehicle (HGV) blind spots. During the assembly it was explained where cyclists should and should not be when in the vicinity of a lorry, and HGV blind spots were pointed out.

The assembly was followed by a practical training session when the Essex Police HGV paid a visit to the school. Year 6 pupils were allowed into and around the vehicle to appreciate first-hand its size, and the restricted view HGV drivers have. A blind spot mat was also used to highlight areas cyclists should avoid.

The initiative is part of wider efforts to enhance the skills and improve safety of child cyclists across Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock. Every school in the area is offered the opportunity to have Bikeability training, which is described as ‘cyclist training for the 21st Century’.

There are three Bikeability levels, each designed to improve cycling skills. Children generally start Bikeability lessons once they have learnt to ride a bike, in Years 3 and 4.

Level 1 gives new riders better control of their bikes before moving on to develop on-road skills at Level 2 which is usually tackled by children in Years 5 and 6, before they leave Primary School. Level 3 teaches how to ride in different and more challenging traffic situations.

13 November 2015