New online resource gets thumbs-up from pupils

Pupils from an East Kilbride primary school are backing a new online resource which teaches them about road safety.

The new, multimedia road safety education resource is primarily aimed at young people with mild to moderate additional learning needs.

It is film-based, and uses activities to explore five real life journeys, with progression through four levels of difficulty. Four journeys are on foot and one is by bus. It is a peer education resource - narrated and presented by young people.

Young people from Murray Primary School were promoting the new resource which can be found at www.a2bsafely.com . Support materials are also available in hard copy.

Some small scale studies found children with learning needs to be disproportionately represented in road accidents. Other studies have linked particular behaviours, such as hyperactivity, to road risk. A recent study identified that parents, schools and other stakeholders believe that their children are at higher risk of involvement in road accidents. There was concern that, due to their restricted travel patterns, many children are missing out on learning the basics of road safety education.

The study found four key areas where it is believed that this group of young people could face additional road safety risks:

• a limited awareness of surroundings and concepts of danger

• a limited ability to cope with changing situations

• some difficulties in putting theory into practice

• some specific difficulties with co-ordination, balance and spatial awareness

A2bsafely is a strongly visual learning experience, which takes the user through levels progressively, like a game.

The support area of a2bsafely.com offers parents advice and provides the opportunity to feedback to Road Safety Scotland on the resource.

'Tracker pages' which can be printed out at the end of each level and taken home are one of the main learning outcome reminders.

Parents are encouraged to participate by teaching their children themselves - reinforcing what they have learned.

Chair of the Road Safety Forum, Councillor John Murray, said: " The road safety messages contained in the activities are clear and relevant.

"Road safety awareness is seen as a key life skill that can significantly increase the independence of young people with additional support needs, both now, and in their adult lives.

"This resource was originally designed with young people aged 10-16 years old in mind. This was seen as the age-band where most individuals, who have previously lost out on road safety education, could benefit. Since then, the appeal of this resource has been seen as being much wider than initially forecast. A focus group of parents considered the resource as being of broad interest to all young people.

"Although a2bsafely is primarily a web-based resource, a CD is available for those who do not have internet access.

"It's also worth remembering that council libraries also offer free internet use to members."