Somerset County Council and the emergency services will be working together this November as pupils from three primary schools in Bridgwater – St Mary’s in Oakfield Road, Hamp Academy in Rhode Lane and Westover Green in West Street – learn all about the importance of pedestrian safety while walking and crossing roads.

The Council’s Road Safety team is providing talks and pedestrian training for youngsters as part of activity-packed, dedicated safety days at each school.

Bridgwater youngsters will get advice on how to cross the road safely and find safe places to play. They will also learn to be traffic-aware and why wearing high visibility clothing is a good idea.

Bridgwater South County Councillor Leigh Redman says “This is a wonderful opportunity for the young people of our communities to get support and training, as we are all aware traffic in Bridgwater can be intimidating, this is before the increase associated with HPC traffic hits our town, anything we can do to encourage better awareness of their environment and increase road safety knowledge must be welcomed. Bridgwater is a busy town and growing, the partners involved should be congratulated for this work, giving our young people pedestrian training can only be a good thing.”

The road safety visits will see pupils from Years 1 to 6 escorted out around the areas near their school, using the routes they use to get to school, to get their ‘pedestrian training’.

Representatives from Avon & Somerset Police, Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, South Western Ambulance Service and courier company DHL are also taking part.

Somerset Road Safety will visit St Mary’s on 4 November, Hamp Academy on 12 November, and Westover Green on 13 November