School children join local officers to improve road safety

Primary school pupils have been helping their local neighbourhood policing officers in Kettering to improve road safety across the town.

Members of the Kettering Neighbourhood Policing Team joined forces with children and staff at three schools to raise awareness of the dangers of driving too fast on local roads.

Following a session in the classroom learning about various aspects of road safety, the youngsters were given the opportunity to join the officers at the roadside to carry out speed checks outside their schools.

Using hand-held speed enforcement equipment, Year 6 pupils from Hall Meadow, Barton Seagrave, and Brambleside primary schools, checked the speed of a total of 100 vehicles.

Pupils at Hall Meadow were pleased to report that no motorists were found to be exceeding the speed limit outside their school in Lake Avenue, Kettering however, that was not the same story at the other two sites.

Outside Barton Seagrave Primary in Belvoir Drive, a total of 10 drivers were caught exceeding the speed 30mph limit, of those - two of the motorists received a notice of intended prosecution after being clocked driving at 37 and 39mph respectively.

It was a slightly better result outside Brambleside Primary School however, two motorists were still disappointingly stopped by pupils and neighbourhood officers for exceeding the 30mph speed limit.

PC Mike Ryan of Kettering Neighbourhood Policing Team, who organised the three sessions, said: “Vehicle anti-social behaviour and road safety are a policing priority due to concerns raised by our local communities.

“These sessions were more about education as opposed to enforcement. However, the children were very enthusiastic, if not sometimes brutal, when it came to telling off speeding drivers.

“One driver said that being a parent and being told off by the children had had a big impact, while a second said they thought being told off by the pupils was the better option - but was wrong.

“These children are at an age where the parental boundaries are starting to be lifted and next year may well be walking to secondary school independently. If we can save just one child or road user from injury or death, then these sessions have been worth our time.

“So, when someone asks us if we have nothing better to do, then my answer is no, and I make no apology. We will continue to raise awareness of road safety in Kettering and enforce the speed limits where necessary.”

If you have any information or concerns about any issues in your community, you can report non-emergency crime to 101, visit www.northants.police.uk/RO or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. In an emergency always call 999.