Students targeted by a hard-hitting production to promote road safety

Students in their final year of primary school are being targeted by a hard-hitting production that is touring the borough next week to promote road safety.

A specially commissioned production called “Now you see me; now you don’t” will be performed at 10 primary schools to help improve young people’s preparation for secondary school, and the longer journeys that face them as they get older.

The action focuses on a crash in which Aaron, an 11 year old boy, is hit by a car. The play explores the events leading up to the crash for Aaron and his best friend Kali who have recently started secondary school. The audience are asked to become detectives in trying to establish who is to blame.

Cllr Barbara Reid, Executive Member for Environment and Planning at Hounslow Council, said, " This production presents the subject of road safety in a gripping way that children can relate to, and encourages them to learn that with independence comes responsibility for their own safety.

“Every year, we see a rise in the number of accidents among children who move from primary to secondary school, often because these children have been given the independence to make their own way to their new school.

“But if these children aren’t used to travelling by themselves they won’t have the safety skills that those who are used to making the trip to school by themselves have.

“We are teaching them that they need to look out for themselves and their friends when crossing the road."

The package will also improve young people’s understanding of the fact that they have increasing control and influence over their own and other people's safety by increasing knowledge about key road safety messages such as:

· importance of being seen

· making eye contact

· being focussed

· being alert to other people’s mistakes

May 22, 2007