Fourteen pupils from St Michael's Primary School in Kerry have joined forces with Powys County Council and Dyfed Powys Police in a campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of speed and non-seatbelt use.
Pupils from St Michael’s Primary School in Kerry helped the council’s Road Safety unit and the police carry out the joint speed and seatbelt use, education and enforcement campaign outside their school the morning of Tuesday 12 July.
During the seatbelt part of the operation, pupils and the Road Safety unit’s Kate Davies counted 36 drivers and passengers putting themselves and other vehicle occupants at risk by not wearing seatbelts.
The vast majority of drivers failed to adhere to the 20mph speed limit outside the school with 11 vehicles exceeding 35mph when approaching the school. The fastest vehicle was caught doing 53mph.
Police officers pulled over a number of drivers during speed campaign including three drivers who were offered to go on a speed awareness course. Another driver was given a £60 fine along with fixed penalty points while another driver will receive a court summons.
The pupil’s role included asked the drivers why they were speeding, if they will do it again and if the motorist knew if they had hit a pedestrian at the speed they were doing then the chances of that pedestrian’s survival was small.
Cllr Geraint Hopkins, Cabinet Member for Environment and Regulation, said: “Inappropriate speeding and not wearing a seatbelt can have devastating consequences. It is vital that drivers remain within the speed limits and that vehicle occupant’s wear a seatbelt at all times as they can save lives.”
Bridget Farrington, the council’s Area Road Safety Officer, said: “This event was a success in raising road safety awareness and I would like to thank the pupils for taking their role so seriously and behaving impeccably throughout.
“The pupils were shocked to learn that a pedestrian hit at over 40mph had only a 10 per cent chance of survival and agreed that lower speeds are imperative for safety, particularly outside schools. We are hopeful that, after the pupils have embarrassed drivers by questioning them about their speed, it will act as a deterrent from them speeding again.”