PUPILS in secondary schools throughout the county are to study road safety as part of the national curriculum, following the launch of a new Government initiative.

Co-ordinated by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR), the department's Secondary Lesson Plans are designed to assist teachers in raising an awareness of road safety among teenagers.

The new initiative is the latest development of the Government's ongoing THINK, road safety campaign and higlights topical areas for classroom discussion.

Areas to be studied include: common excuses for driving too fast, assessments on how celebrities behave when caught up in court cases for speeding, and how to develop an effective 'teaser' style media advertising campaign highlighting death on the roads.

Lessons aim to bridge the awareness gap between young children and teenagers the age group most likely to be killed or injured as pedestrians, but least likely to think they are vulnerable on the road.

June 17, 2002 13:00