Thousands of road users from Year 6 pupils on their bikes to age 60-plus motorists are getting around more safely thanks to Somerset Council.
Whether it’s 9-year-old children gaining their first taste of the road or older people building back confidence behind the wheel, the Council’s Road Safety Team has delivered face-to-face road safety education, advice and training to nearly 38,000 people, young, and older in 2024.
The team’s comprehensive approach includes educational programs in schools, workshops for new drivers, and collaborations with local organisations to address specific road safety challenges.
The team’s education ranges from presentations for primary school children to training for mature drivers, focusing on the unique challenges faced by each group. Key programs include:
- Bikeability: Cycle training for Year 5 and 6 pupils, teaching essential road safety skills. If you’d like to learn more about the training, one of the instructors shares how Bikeability empowers young cyclists in a video titled: Bikeability in Action: Teaching Children to Ride Safely on the Road.
- Stay safe: Workshops for Reception to Year 6, raising awareness about safe pedestrian and passenger behaviour.
- Ghost street: Presentations for year 8 and year 9 pupils, highlighting the dangers of distractions near roads.
- Be safe, stay safe: Presentations for Year 10 and 11 pupils, promoting safer journeys.
- Learn to live: Road safety presentations for college students, highlighting the consequences of collisions.
- Raise your ride: Practical road safety courses for motorcyclists, run with the police.
- Mature drivers: Talks for older drivers, discussing how driving habits may need to adapt with age.
Alongside the ongoing interventions taking place in schools, colleges and with older drivers, the team’s efforts also include the introduction of advanced safety technologies and infrastructure improvements.
These measures include the installation of speed cameras, enhanced road signage, and the implementation of traffic calming measures in high-risk areas.
Councillor Richard Wilkins, Somerset Council’s Lead Member for Transport and Digital said:
It’s brilliant to see that the Council’s Somerset Road Safety team has reached so many people with face-to-face presentations, talks and workshops for all ages in Somerset. This work is crucial in keeping our roads safe.
The team travels around the county every week delivering these important initiatives and oversee the introduction of new safety technology and infrastructure improvements that all play a vital role in improving road safety in the county.
This sometimes-unseen work has a tremendous impact on our community, making our roads safer for everyone.
Getting children and young people on their bikes from an early age isn’t just about learning road sense, it’s helping them lead a healthier lifestyle and giving them more choice about how they get around.
The Somerset Road Safety Team continues to work tirelessly to ensure that the roads are safe for all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. Their dedication and proactive approach have earned them recognition and support from the community and local authorities.
For more information about the Somerset Road Safety Team’s initiatives and how you can get involved, please visit somersetroadsafety.org or email roadsafety@somerset.gov.uk.
