New club tackles child road safety

 

 

The council’s Road Safety Unit is working in partnership with DBDA to enable Powys residents to become members of the Children’s Traffic Club. New members will receive free books and stickers.

 

The award-winning club helps parents or carers teach their three to four year old children how to stay safe when they are out walking, playing, travelling in cars or buses. Once registered, parents or carers will receive a series of six books to work through with their child, which aims to help them learn how to keep safe in a fun and memorable way.

 

Cllr Geraint Hopkins, Cabinet Member for Environment and Regulation, said: “Children can be best influenced when they are very young and good habits established early can last a life time. This club has proved to be a valuable tool in keeping our children safe when out and about.”

 

As club members go through the books, they will meet the Children’s Traffic Club Children. Each story has one of the children in it and the child will soon be able to recognise them and get to know their names and their families.

 

Sarah Morris, the council’s Senior Road Safety Officer, said: “Approximately 3,090 children are killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads every year and three in four of those accidents occur while a child is out walking or cycling. Research shows that child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 per cent for infants under the age of one and 54 per cent for toddlers between the ages of one and four.

 

“This is a proven and effective child accident prevention programme and I urge parents and carers to register with the club so they can teach their young children important road safety skills.”

 

To join the club, email your address to road.safety@powys.gov.uk or telephone 01597 826979.

 

The club is funded by a road safety grant from the Welsh Government. For further information visit www.trafficclub.co.uk