News

It was with great pleasure that Sue Storch, Chair of Road Safety Wales, presented the Wales Road Safety Awards at their conference on 12 May.

Nominations were received from across Wales and are a small token of recognition to those individuals, groups and organisations that have made a real commitment to road safety - above and beyond what would normally have been expected of them. The award recipients are not necessarily road safety professionals, but all have been undertaking road safety professionally, and Road Safety Wales would like to thank them for all their work.

Crucial Crew

The Crucial Crew event is in its 23rd year in Pembrokeshire, and for the past five years the event has been supported by South Hook LNG Terminal Company Limited. Without their generosity this invaluable initiative would not be able to continue. Over and above monetary support, they have also donated around 1,300 Hi-viz jackets, torches, reflectors and an educational resource to every child who attends the event.

Since 2010 the Company has sponsored the School Crossing Patrol Service, buying every patrol a new uniform enabling them to be more visible to drivers, whilst providing an invaluable service to communities across Pembrokeshire; and in 2012 they supported a Winter ‘Be Safe Be Bright’ campaign, with the donation of a reflector for every child in the County and to the wider Pembrokeshire community, allowing individuals to be seen clearly when out on the roads in the dark. Pembrokeshire’s Road Safety team and Road Safety Wales are pleased to be able to recognise the contribution of the Company to the ongoing safety of the children in Pembrokeshire.

Breakthrough Project Road Safety Awareness

Elderly residents in Rhondda Cynon Taf confided to Shelly Bird of Age Connects Morgannwg, and their local PCSO Cherylin Pryor, that drivers were speeding and not stopping at the pelican crossings along the main roads through the area. More worryingly, drivers were often not waiting for people to finish crossing the road safely.A road safety campaign was devised, with funding from local shops and businesses, Communities First, Wales and West Housing Association and ASDA and supported by 31 partner agencies. The elderly, the young and the wider community were brought together for a holistic approach and understanding of the issues through a number of events in March 2015, which saw 499 members of the community taking part. The campaign proved to be such a success that an Intergenerational Community Road Safety Campaign took place during National Road Safety Week, with workshops, presentations and activities attended by 806 community members. Building on these two campaigns, PCSO Pryor has initiated a Community Speedwatch Scheme in Ystrad, Ton Pentre and Gelli, using volunteers and Junior Road Safety Officers. The intergenerational work between schools and residents, and road safety work within schools continues as a result of this partnership approach to road safety awareness..

Coleg Sir Gâr

In 2009 Coleg Sir Gâr piloted the Carmarthenshire Young Driver Programme with approximately 100 Engineering and Animal Care students. Since then the number of students has increased year on year, with almost 800 students now taking part. The College is fully aware of the vulnerability of their students, as young drivers and as passengers in vehicles driven by novice drivers, giving these issues a high priority within the College. Recently work has taken place on other mitigation and control measures to deal with errant young drivers, resulting in the ‘Safe Driving Procedure for Learners’ being implemented, together with a programme for ‘Entry Level’ students. These students have a wide variety of Special Educational Needs, including those on the autistic spectrum, deaf, visually impaired, wheelchair users, those with learning and/or behavioural difficulties. Lyn Morris of Carmarthenshire Road Safety said, “I started working with the College on the Young Driver programme back in 2007 and I really can’t praise the College enough; their commitment, support and concern for their students’ welfare have been outstanding throughout.”

Jennie and Digby Rees

Jennie and Digby Rees run the Three Horseshoes Public House, which is sited on the main road through Peterstone Super Ely, and is close to the primary school. In the early 1990’s they watched the problems encountered on the narrow roads at school start and finish times, and were alarmed by the increasing number of parents stopping outside their premises to drop off and collect their children. Concerned for the safety of all, the head teacher and governors of the School were approached and offered the use of the pub’s parking facilities for parents’ vehicles at the beginning and end of the school day. This reduced the traffic near the school to the advantage of the neighbours and the safety of all pedestrians. In 2007, a school crossing patrol site was established outside the Three Horseshoes, making the final link in a safe walking route between the car park and the school. The generosity of Jennie and Digby Rees has remained constant over a 20 year period. Their support with traffic issues and encouragement of a safe walking route have been of great benefit to Peterstone Super Ely Primary School and the local community. A representative from the Vale of Glamorgan Council collected their award and it will be presented to them at a later date.

Daisy Lambe, SCP

Daisy Lambe has been a devoted member of Pembrokeshire’s School Crossing Patrol Service since starting as a mobile SCP in the Autumn of 1984. She became the full time SCP at Pembroke Bush School, Pembroke in 1985 but was made to officially retire in 2003, the day before her 65th Birthday, after 18 years of service. Daisy was asked to return as a relief SCP in the summer of 2007 and jumped at the chance, officially returning as a permanent member of staff in 2008. Working on Bush Street, serving Pembroke Dock Community School ever since; she is now 77 years young. Daisy or Aunty Daisy, as she is known by the children she crosses, is a well loved lollipop lady, with a smile and kind word for every child. Some of the children she crosses today are children of the pupils she crossed when she first began. Kirstie Donoghue, Road Safety Officer for Pembrokeshire County Council said “I have worked with Daisy since she returned to her role, however, Daisy was my ‘lollipop lady’ when I went to Bush School. Knowing her when I was a child and now as her manager, I have great respect for her; she is very committed to her job and loves every second. She is a very kind and thoughtful person; it is an honour to have had Daisy as part of our team for the past 30 years.”

Congratulations to all the Award winners.