Highland hosts Scotland’s first Junior Road Safety Officer Conference
Over 300 delegates are attending the first Junior Road Safety Officer Conference of its kind held in Scotland today (Wednesday 16th April) at Inverness Sports Centre.
Organised by The Highland Council’s Road Safety Team in TEC Services, the conference is being funded by the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity, Sustrans and supported by the Scottish Government and the Northern Safety Camera Partnership.
230 Junior Road Safety Officers with 95 adult helpers from all over the Highlands are attending the event.
The aims of the event are to motivate and encourage Junior Road Safety Officers to undertake the vital road safety education work that they carry out in their schools.
Councillor John Laing, Chairman of The Highland Council’s TEC Services said: “This conference is an excellent way to engage with our young people throughout the Highlands on the very serious issue of road safety. I hope that all the Junior Road Safety Officers enjoy their day at the conference and take back some helpful information to schools in their own areas.”
Lynn Marshall, Sustrans' School Travel Project Officer for Scotland, said: “This is one of many fantastic projects taking place across Scotland to tackle the school run and an excellent example of what can be achieved given a good idea and the necessary support to make it happen. It’s great to see so many young people involved in an event aiming to make their school journeys safer, healthier and more active.”
In support of the conference Northern Safety Camera Partnership has provided pencils, erasers and rulers for every Primary six and seven pupil throughout the Highlands.
Although youngsters of this age are some years away from learning to drive, the type of driver that a young person will be is determined long before the age of 17. Research has found that many youngsters embark on their first driving lesson with well-engrained attitudes about driving as a result of being a passenger and copying their parent’s driving traits.
Northern Safety Camera Partnership Manager, Insp John Smith, said: “Supporting the Junior Road Safety Officer Conference gives us an opportunity to get the message across about the risks of speeding. We’re hoping the youngsters will influence their parents and encourage them to drive at a safe speed.
“We also want parents to be aware that their attitude to driving influences how their children will behave behind the wheel when the time comes for them to learn to drive. If adults set a good example and exhibit safe behaviour whilst out on the road they will be helping to create safe drivers for the future and help to reduce the number of road collisions involving young drivers.”
Special hosts at the conference are Gino and Nicky from the MFR breakfast show and delegates’ sessions are themed around ‘Being a Junior Road Safety Officer’; ‘Active Travel to School’ and ‘Safe cycling’.
The conference programme includes:
• a look at the importance of being a Junior Road Safety Officer;
• Junior Road Safety Officer’s work and shared experiences around the Highlands;
• laughter with child comedian James Campbell;
• Quantum Theatre’s interpretation of ‘What if it Rains’ when travelling to school;
• top cycling information and demonstrations from local cycling experts ‘Wolfpax’; and
• a Mastermind quiz to test road safety knowledge.