Free training for family workers to save children’s lives on roads

Professionals working with families, such as SureStart workers, health professionals and educators, are being urged to take advantage of FREE training on dangers facing children on roads in advance of National Road Safety Week (5-11 November 2007).

A child is killed or hurt every 18 minutes on UK roads. Government statistics show that child road deaths increased by 20% from 2005 to 2006, from 141 to 169.

Training is offered by the FedEx & Brake Road Safety Academy, an educational initiative run by road safety charity Brake and funded by express transportation company FedEx. The Academy aims to reach road users who are particularly at risk on roads, like children and young people. It does this by training volunteers and professionals to deliver powerful road safety presentations in their local communities.

The Academy offers half-day training designed for professionals who work with parents of young children, which covers:

Belting up and correct use of child restraints.
Safe driving, especially around schools and homes.
Ensuring children are safe when walking and cycling.

Professionals attending the training receive everything they need to deliver life-saving presentations to parents, including free hand-outs, a colourful flip-chart and on-going telephone support. In-house training can also be arranged for groups of professionals at the same organisation.

National Road Safety Week 2007 (5–11 November), co-ordinated by Brake, this year will focus on the topic of child pedestrian and cyclist safety. The UK has the joint fourth worst child pedestrian death rate (per population) in Western Europe. Road Safety Week offers the ideal opportunity for professionals trained by the Academy to hold life-saving presentations for families and parents. To find out more about ways to get involved in Road Safety Week visit roadsafetyweek.org.

Jools Townsend, head of education at Brake says: “It is essential that we help parents understand the dangers facing their children on roads and how they can best protect them. The FedEx & Brake Road Safety Academy offers free training and resources to professionals and volunteers to help them deliver life-saving road safety messages to parents. We’re urging professionals who work with families to get in touch now, in advance of Road Safety Week, and to find out how we can work together to make our communities safer places.”

Professionals wishing to find out more about setting up in-house training or booking on a course can do so by visiting brake.org.uk or contacting Hayley Wood, Development Officer at Brake, on 01484 559909/01484 559987 or at hwood@brake.org.uk.