PUPILS from 24 primary schools across the borough have teamed up with St Helens Council to take part in Road Safety Week.

From Monday, November 18 to Sunday, November 24, the UK’s biggest road safety campaign - coordinated by Brake, the road safety charity - asks people to get involved to raise awareness of road dangers.

As part of the campaign primary schools across the borough visited St Helens Town Hall yesterday, Wednesday, November 20 to take part in the annual Junior Road Safety Officer’s welcome event.

The event was aimed at providing information to Year 5 and 6 pupils so that they can go back to their own schools and carry out assemblies, competitions, road side activities to promote road safety in and around their schools and communities.

Every 20 minutes, someone is killed or seriously injured on a British road. Each of these tragedies has a devastating effect on families and communities.

This is most relevant to St Helens in the death of four-year-old Violet-Grace Youens who died after a hit and run in March 2017 on Prescot Road.

This year’s Road Safety Week theme, ‘step up for safe streets’, is focussing on the safe systems approach aimed at making roads safer.

These can be anything from 20mph limits in urban areas and vehicle technology which prevents vehicles from speeding, to segregated cycle paths and graduated driver licensing.

Dave Nichols, community engagement manager for Brake, said: “We’re delighted St Helens Council’s Road Safety Team and schools are getting involved with Road Safety Week and stepping up for safe streets.

“Nobody should be killed or seriously injured on our roads and we already know the many solutions that can prevent these tragedies and allow us all to get around in safe and healthy ways.

“It’s vital everyone gets involved with learning about, shouting about and celebrating these solutions, whether through campaigning for safer roads, or choosing to use roads as safely as possible. Together we can make roads safer for everyone.”

Melanie Burrows, Road Safety Team Leader for St Helens Council, added: “This week would not be as successful without the dedication of our Junior Road Safety Officers and the support of staff from their schools. The Junior Road Safety Officers are always eager to promote road safety within their individual schools and local communities”.