GALLERY: Wiltshire Police team up with school children to urge drivers to slow down

Wiltshire Police are supporting the UK’s biggest road safety event coordinated annually by Brake, the road safety charity in a bid to encourage drivers to slow down.

48 road traffic collisions have occurred on Wiltshire’s roads over the last year.  58 casualties were reported, two of which were fatal and 12 caused serious injury. All of these had driving at excessive speed as one of the enabling factors.

Primary school children from across Wiltshire were invited to design a poster to support the campaign due to run between 20-26 November.  We received over 200 poster entries from schools across Wiltshire and judging took place on Tuesday 31 October by the Police and Crime Commissioner Angus McPherson and Community Speed Watch volunteer Roger Evans.

Angus McPherson said: “The judging was a difficult task and it was clear we have many talented young people in Wiltshire.  We ended up with six designs that will all be used across our road safety campaign.

“Each design demonstrates an enormous amount of thought and effort and I would like to personally take this opportunity to thank the children who took the time to enter the competition and congratulate the winners on their success.”

The winners of the competition are; Emily of Year 5, Chiseldon School, Tiarna of Year 2, Brookfield Primary School, Willow of Year 6, Neston Primary School, Teal of Year 4, St Leonards Primary School, Lottie of Reception, Wootton Basset Infants School and Lyla of Year 3, Bemerton St John C of E Primary School.

Community Speed Watch (CSW) will be working alongside Community Policing teams during the week to highlight the campaign whose slogan is ‘Speed Down Saves Lives’.

Inspector James Brain said, “Our Community Speed Watch teams play a significant role in the education of road safety.

“Their presence in our community helps to raise the awareness of speeding on Wiltshire’s roads and they play a part in the core police function of preventing crime, reducing harm and demand, through a collective problem solving approach.

“Our advice is plan enough time for your journey, slow down, be alert and your destination will be your reward. Remember speed down, save lives."