Educating the next generation

Thurrock Council’s Road Safety team – part of the Safer Essex Roads Partnership – met with over 500 children at The Big Lunch at Grays Park on Tuesday (26 July).

The team were busy answering questions at the family fun day about crossing the road safely and the importance of not being distracted whilst walking.

Road safety related gifts were handed out to every child and activity sheets were given out to keep children occupied during the summer holiday.

Adults were not left out either. Discussions were had about the consequences of using a mobile phone whilst driving and not wearing a seatbelt. Leaflets, booklets and pens were given out to reinforce the message.

Cllr James Halden, Portfolio Holder for Education and Health, said: “One of our focuses is to educate at an early age to prevent problems in adulthood and this includes road safety.

“With certain recent trends in particular mobile phone apps it is extremely important that young people are concentrating on what is around them when walking alongside roads and making sure they are crossing roads in the safest places and in the correct way.”

Cllr Halden added: “Education takes place everywhere, not just inside the classroom – and helps in more areas than just passing exams. It will help keep our children safe and healthy as they grow and enter into adulthood.”

For more information on work being done by the road safety team go to Safer Essex Roads Partnership