and Rhiw-Syr-Dafydd Primary School with their road sign designs
Pupils from Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Derwen and Rhiw-Syr-Dafydd Primary School have taken part in a competition to design 20mph speed limit signs for Oakdale.
Fifteen pupils from both schools recently visited Caerphilly County Borough Council’s T? Penallta, where they were presented by Cllr Leon Gardiner, Mayor of Caerphilly County Borough Council, and Cllr. Tom Williams, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transportation and Engineering, with a customised certificate featuring their sign designs.
The overall winners were Ffion Young from Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Derwen and Molly Bryce from Rhiw-Syr-Dafydd Primary School.
Cllr Tom Williams, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transportation and Engineering said: “I’m delighted that so many pupils have taken part in the competition to design the 20mph signs for Oakdale.
“All of the designs were fantastic and it’s brilliant to see so many children engaging with road safety within their community.”
How about teaching these kids that roads can be dangerous and they must take great care when they are crossing a road because if they step out into the path of a moving vehicle they will be seriously injured or even killed. Do not teach kids that motorists will slow down for them. I’m all for road safety and obeying the speed limits especially through built up areas – how many times have you followed a driver travelling at 40mph along a 60mph stretch of road only for them to blindly continue on at 40 after entering a 30mph zone. Road safety is important and so is teaching children the dangers of a public highway, they should not be brainwashed into believing that the responsibility is all down to the driver, it is not.
I have noticed that children’s road crossing skills have diminished as roads get busier. Paul is quite right to highlight that children should be taught that crossing a road can be lethal.
When I was a kid I was in ‘The Tufty Club’ where a squirrel character and policeman Badger taught us road crossing skills. Like anything learned by heart when young these skills are still with me now. I don’t know if Tufty is still around but if he is not it may be a good idea to bring him back. His lessons must have saved thousands from injury or death.
I was also in the Tufty Club, and the local police made regular visits to school to talk to us about road safety and show us pictures of what happens when kids come into contact with a moving vehicle, a short sharp shock was very effective in getting the message across.
I am all for slowing traffic but one of two things will happen:
1. People ignore the signs. No effect.
or
2. People are distracted when they look to admire the signs. Concentration is lost causing an accident. A net negative effect.
This is a terrible idea. And a waste of money. Use speed cameras to slow people down.