Safety conscious youngsters win leading award

Junior road safety officers ( JRSOs) at St Timothy’s Primary took action in a drive to make the school’s surroundings safer.

Pupils on the safety committee ran an awardwinning campaign to improve safety in and around their car park after concerns were raised by classmates, parents and staff and pupils.

They surveyed attendees at parents’ night to find out their views and concerns, noted vehicle parking locations before and after school and photographed congestion and double parking in the school car park.

Next, they contacted North Lanarkshire Council health and safety officers to highlight the need for new signs at the drop-off and the repainting of worn crossing places on the car park’s speed bumps – both of which have now been done.

JRSOs also ensured fellow pupils were aware of the issue by setting up a special noticeboard to encourage walking to school, featuring the slogan “ditch those wheels and use your heels”.

With their school car park improving and the youngsters planning to carry out another survey in October, the safetysmart pupils were honoured at North Lanarkshire’s annual JRSO awards.

They won the best campaign category, with JRSO committee members being presented with their prize by planning and transportation convener James Coyle and viceconvener Bill Shields, the Coatbridge North councillor.