East Suffolk Council

Posted by on 14 November 2022 | Comments

Road safety activities will be taking place in East Suffolk this week, organised by the Kesgrave, Rushmere St Andrew, Martlesham, Carlford and Fynn Valley Community Partnership. 

One of the priorities of the Community Partnership is improving road safety education and as part of this, the Partnership holds a regular Road Safety Forum which brings communities and partner organisations together to share skills and data and tackle local road safety issues.

A range of activities have been organised by members of the Road Safety Forum to support Road Safety Week, which runs from Monday 14 to Sunday 20 November. 

Cllr Chris Blundell, Chair of the Kesgrave, Rushmere St Andrew, Martlesham, Carlford and Fynn Valley Community Partnership said: “This is the second consecutive year we have been involved with Road Safety Week and I would like to thank everyone for their efforts in arranging the huge range of activities taking place this year. Every 22 minutes, someone is killed or seriously injured on a UK road and this is why educating people about the importance of road safety is a key focus for the Community Partnership. We can all help to improve road safety each and every day, whether this means reducing your speed when driving, parking in a safe place or ensuring children are more visible on their way to school.” 

The Road Safety Week activities include: 

• Roadside banners reminding drivers to reduce their speed will be installed at key locations across the Community Partnership area, including at Westerfield Station.  
• A funding scheme for primary schools within the Community Partnership area will be launched, enabling schools to teach cycle safety.
• Large agricultural, industrial and delivery businesses within the Community Partnership area are being encouraged to engage with Road Safety Week. 
• Junior Road Safety Officers at Heath Primary School in Kesgrave will be promoting Road Safety Week through special assemblies and will be joined by James Wright from Rushmere St Andrew Parish Council for some Speed Watch activities.
• Junior Road Safety Officers at Birchwood Primary School in Martlesham will be relaunching their hi-vis jacket provision which was funded by the Community Partnership earlier this year.
• Suffolk Police will be visiting Charsfield C of E Primary School in Woodbridge to discuss road safety and take part in Speed Watch activities.
• Suffolk Police and East Suffolk Communities officers will be visiting Grundisburgh Primary School to launch their hi-vis jacket scheme and encourage safer parking near the school site. 
• Officers from East Suffolk Council’s Parking Team will be out and about across the Community Partnership area speaking to parents about safer parking outside schools. 
• Junior Road Safety Officers at Broke Hall Primary School in Rushmere St Andrew will be promoting Road Safety Week and taking part in the hi-vis jacket programme.
• Suffolk New College - Suffolk Rural (formerly Otley College) will be supporting Road Safety Week and members of the Road Safety Forum will be in the college speaking with students to raise awareness of road safety.
• Speed Watch teams will also be out throughout the week.

Organised by road safety charity Brake, Road Safety Week is the largest road safety campaign in the UK. Every year, thousands of schools, organisations and communities get involved to share important road safety messages, remember people affected by road death and injury, and raise funds to help Brake care for more road victims and campaign for safe roads for everyone.