HAMPSHIRE County Council will be highlighting Road Safety Week (23 – 29 November) this year by supporting Thames Valley and Hampshire Police’s Safe Drive Stay Alive initiative.

Safe Drive Stay Alive is an innovative theatre education project brought to schools and colleges which explores the circumstances and consequences of a road traffic collision. It includes a filmed scenario which shows a group of young people on a night out whose car is involved in a collision. As the on-screen drama unfolds, members of the emergency services that are featured in the film step out onto the stage.

Councillor Seán Woodward, Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment at Hampshire County Council, said: “Learning how to be safe on the roads is an important lesson for everyone, from new drivers to young cyclists, and I’m pleased we’re able to support Road Safety Week with initiatives that reach a wide range of people. By asking people to consider their behaviour behind the wheel of a car, on their bike or just crossing the road as they walk to school, we hope to show how better awareness of what’s going on around you can make the roads safer for everyone.”

The council’s Road Safety team will also be focusing on younger students, to help them learn to stay safe as pedestrians and cyclists.

The authority runs and supports a number of road safety initiatives all year round, including, for primary school children, pedestrian safety as part of the council’s ‘Streets Ahead’ programme, Bikeability training and the Junior Road Safety Officer proggramme, where children lead on promoting road safety to their school communities.