Minister praises children’s road safety campaign

CHILDREN have been praised by a government minister for their campaign to encourage safer driving.

Pupils from reception to Year 6 at Frieth Primary School received a letter from Emma Reynolds, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in response to their posters, which have gone on display in the Hambleden Valley.

The pop-up campaign was led by Lynda Brown, of Greener Frieth, to encourage drivers to keep to the 20mph limit in the village.

The posters have since been put on display in Skirmett Road in Hambleden and the marina at Mill End after a petition was launched by residents who claim the speed limit is “routinely ignored” by drivers.

The petition has since reached more than 600 signatures.

In a letter to the students, Ms Reynolds said their hard work was “inspiring”. She said: “I know your efforts will be appreciated by everyone in these communities.

“They are a very powerful reminder of the importance of respecting speed limits and driving mindfully.

“I understand that you have been learning about road safety in your lessons and I would like to express my gratitude to your teachers for working hard to make sure you have the knowledge and skills on road safety, especially as you grow older and eventually become young drivers yourselves.

“I want to thank you for taking such meaningful action to hep protect residents and pedestrians in these areas.”

Ettie Saunders, nine, drew a poster asking people to slow down. She said: “I drew a car and a little girl who was walking along the road and it said, ‘please drive at 20mph’. There was a speed sign and the car was going the exact [limit].

“I wanted to draw it because I know that cars should be going at the speed limit because it’s dangerous if they are not.

“I felt that if we made it big and bold and we put it on the road, that it might actually help.”

Chris Syed, 10, said he felt proud that he and his peers are making the roads a safer place.

He said: “I’m very proud and especially interested in an MP responding to one of our actions. I was very happy that our actions had made it that far out into the public and that people wanted to learn more about it.

“Normally in villages and countryside lanes, there is a lot of people walking so it’s very important that cars are going at a safe speed.”

Vicky Murray, a project manager who lives in Skirmett Road, was approached by Mrs Brown, who gave her one of the designs to place around Hambleden.

She said: “There are already about 15 of us in different properties who are behind this campaign.

“I’ve stepped out of the road with my pram with no traffic coming and then all of a sudden a car has sped around the blind spot at 60mph.

“These situations happen on a scarily frequent basis. It’s just ridiculous that they are allowed to go 40mph on Skirmett Road.

“It's amazing to have the children involved and the posters are brilliant. They are very eye-catching so hopefully they will help make a difference.”

Headteacher Martin Gosling said: “Lots of children walk up the hill to the school and there are pavements on parts of the road so it’s especially important that drivers drive carefully. The posters have presented a lovely opportunity to work with the local community and the environmental group Greener Frieth.

“Emma Reynolds kindly wrote to us thanking us and congratulating us on our campaign to encourage drivers to reduce their speed and drive more carefully.

“She was very appreciative of what the children did.”