Local Children Win Bikes and Safety Gear for Road Safety Week: 6th - 12th November

Primary schools from the county and city took part in competitions to win fantastic bikes and safety gear, organised by the Personal Injury department at leading Leicester Law Firm, Lawson-West Solicitors, in aid of Road Safety Week, which runs this year from 6th – 12th November.

The children were asked to design a new road sign that they thought would help save lives by reducing accidents on the roads. Chloe Bibby aged 9 (pictured right with Marketing Manager, Jo Wright) from St Luke's Primary School in Thurnby and James Roberts also 9 from The Meadow Primary School Wigston, were among the winners.

The winning entries will be displayed in the Lawson-West offices on Uppingham Road, Long Street in Wigston and also Coventry Road Market Harborough.

Ashley Hunt, Personal Injury Partner at Lawson-West commented:

“Unfortunately in our field, we see the results of many road accidents and the effect it has on people’s lives. Running the competition with local schools in the area was a fun way to remind primary age children about the dangers of the road, whilst highlighting and supporting Road Safety Week. With the clocks recently going back, it is especially important that both children and adults are extra vigilant at this time of year.”

Jools Townsend, head of education at road safety charity Brake, which co-ordinates Road Safety Week, says:

“We are delighted that Lawson-West Solicitors is supporting Road Safety Week through this initiative. Every week, horrifying numbers of children and young people are killed and seriously injured in accidents on our roads. These deaths and injuries are preventable – so it’s crucial that we work together as a community to spread life-saving road safety education. Engaging local children and families with road safety messages will help keep them safe and could prevent future tragedies in the Leicester community.”

Ashley commented on the standard of entries:-

“All of the entries we received have been of a very high standard and we’ve had a hard time choosing the winners. We hope the children enjoy their prizes and keep safe on the roads.”

Road Safety Facts for Leicestershire 2005:

33 children were killed or seriously injured in accidents on Leicestershire roads. 403 road users of all ages were killed or seriously injured in accidents on Leicestershire roads - one person every day.

Nationwide:

Every 18 minutes a child is killed or hurt in an accident on UK roads. Traffic is the second biggest killer of 5 - 14 year-olds in England and Wales, after cancer.