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Youngsters learn to become junior road safety officers
tayside Pupils will return to their schools and pass on their knowledge to other children
By April Mitchinson

Published: 22/09/2010

AN ANNUAL event where a select group of youngsters are taught to become junior road safety officers began in Dundee yesterday.

The event, which is run by Tayside Police in partnership with Road Safety Scotland, sees primary six pupils learn about road safety issues.

The youngsters are then responsible for maintaining road safety notice boards in their schools, discussing road safety issues with fellow pupils and running competitions.

Previous junior road safety officers have also successfully lobbied local councils into improving road safety near their schools.

A total of 65 pupils from Dundee attended the event at Tayside Police’s Baluniefield training block in the city yesterday, with events also lined up for Forfar and Perth.

Tayside Police road safety co-ordinator Marian Scott said: “The scheme gives children ownership of the issue which in turn makes it into a high profile issue for children.

“In the last year or so junior road safety officers have managed to influence councils through requesting footpaths and signs to ensure fellow pupils are able to walk to and from school more safely.

“They have assisted in resolutions to alleviate parking at the school gate, showing that they take their role seriously and is another example of how influential children can be.”

Hundreds of primary six pupils from Tayside have taken part in the scheme since it was introduced in 2004.

Ms Scott added: ‘‘The majority of primary schools in Tayside are benefiting from having pupils who are confident in playing a key role in increasing road safety awareness and we are certain it will be heightened further still through this year’s representatives



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