‘Please slow down’ was the message from Stoborough First
School children this month when they worked with local police to
tackle speeding through their village.
In
response to concerns about speeding from Stoborough residents
raised through PACT (Partners & Communities Together), Wareham
West Safer Neighbourhood Team visited the school in order to
address the issue
Earlier this year, Rob Camp Senior Road Safety
Officer at Dorset County Council re-established a school crossing
patrol in response to the concerns, which has proven to be popular
with pupils, school staff and parents alike.
In support of the crossing Wareham West Safer
Neighbourhood officers, PC Nikki Spencer and PCSOs Stuart Hann,
Dave Brown and Cheryl Belfield went to speak to the school children
about road safety and the importance of using the crossing every
day.
The school then organised for year 4 pupils to
write down what they would say to the drivers who were driving
below and above the speed limit outside their school. The students
were also asked to design a poster aimed at speeding motorists.
Groups of pupils then joined Safer
Neighbourhood officers to carryout vehicle speed checks on Corfe
Road outside the school. Motorists who obeyed the speed limit were
then thanked by the children.
Prizes, donated by Monkey World, Lookout
stores and Waterstones, were awarded to the winning poster designs.
The winning poster drawn by Jack Griffen, aged 9, will be displayed
outside the school in September 2010, runner-up prizes were awarded
to Micah Murray-Brown and Luke Dighton.
PC
Nikki Spencer said: “We have discovered through PACT that speeding is
a significant concern in this area.
“Speeding affects the children on a daily
basis since it occurs on the road outside the school and they are
committed to tackling it.
“Their participation has a profound impact on
drivers.”
Head Teacher Mr Darren Marklew said: "Working
with the police has been fantastic for all of the children. It has
certainly raised road and speed safety awareness and everyone
involved has said it has been a great success."
The involvement with the school reinforces
messages behind the countywide ‘no excuse’ campaign which hopes to
make Dorset’s roads the safest in the region.