A mobile app is helping deliver the road safety message to school kids and their parents.
Pupils from two Kirklees schools worked with Kirklees Road Safety Partnership and media students at Kirklees College to devise the app. which focuses on the importance of wearing seat belts and the dangers of overcrowding in cars.
The app includes 10 short powerful video messages, filmed at Dewsbury fire station and presented by children from Headfield Junior School and Paradise Primary School in Savile Town, Dewsbury.
Ravi Singh, tutor at the college’s media department, said: “It was a great opportunity for the level 3 media students to get some hands-on practical experience as part of their course work. As well as the filing, editing and production of the videos, they undertook ther script work. Working under the supervision of media tutor John Coombes, it was finalised in conjunction with the headteachers and children from both schools.”
Chris Kirby, who chairs Kirklees Road Safety Partnership, said: “Using the children to give the message not only helps educate the children – our future drivers – but gives them a powerful voice to bring the message to their parents.”
The project was also supported by David Boothroyd, station manager at Dewsbury fire station, and PSCO Julie Buxton, of West Yorkshire Police.
The app includes a “parental Pledge” button where parents can sign up to the promise to wear their seatbelts for those they love and who love them. There’s also information on seatbelt law and advice on keeping on the right side of the law and saving lives.
Val Hardi, neighbourhood policing team co-ordinator, said that following the launch of the app, officers wuold be conducting patrols to tackle road traffic offences and look for positive changes in driver behaviour towards seat belt wearing and overcrowding.
All 10 films can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFJkviTQ_cA
