Devon & Cornwall Police go back to school

As part of Vision Zero South West - a campaign to cut road deaths and serious injuries - police officers attended Barton Hill Academy in Torquay alongside Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service to deliver a lesson in road safety.

The lesson was aimed at nine to eleven-year-olds, teaching them about the dangers on the road and what steps they can take to keep themselves safe. During their visit, the children were able to ask questions to learn more about what our officers do and how they keep road users safe. They also had the opportunity to explore some of the emergency vehicles.

Sergeant Owen Messenger, Road Casualty Reduction Officer who supported the lesson, said: ‘It’s really important that we engage and educate with this age group about road safety as they are now at the age where they’re starting to explore their independence and travel independently. 

“This lesson provided children with a greater understanding of what hazards and risks are on the roads and what they can do to make sure they are safe. 

“What they have learnt will help them as they grow up, making them more aware of dangers on the roads as pedestrians, cyclists and also when they’re behind the wheel themselves later in life.”

Inspector Chris Lithgow, who looks after neighbourhood policing in Torquay, said: “Education is such great tool to make sure road users, especially the younger generation, remain safe when out and about. It’s fantastic that officers were able to support the lesson at Barton Hill Academy, engaging with the children in our local community”.

The half-day interactive lesson was made up of multiple bite-size sections, including conversation, drawing and drama, ending with a performance using road safety scenario cards.

In July 2023, the council commissioned Taleblazers, who are part of the Torbay Arts in Schools Network, to create and deliver these road safety lessons to children in the Torbay area. To date, their team has visited nine primary schools, benefitting almost one-thousand children. Torbay Council are exploring how they can roll this out more widely across the area.

Torbay schools that would like a copy of the lesson plan can request one by emailing: engagement@torbay.gov.uk

Devon & Cornwall Police Officers, and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service pictured alongside children from Barton Hill Academy during the road safety lesson. Photo credit - Torbay Council.