Police offer walk-to-school tips

They are supporting the national Walk to School Week which has been running since Monday with members of local policing teams visiting schools to talk to pupils about the importance of road safety awareness.

They are reinforcing key personal safety messages and helping some schools that operate walking buses and park and stride schemes.

Richard Denton, children and young people development officer and school co-ordinator for the force, said: “While this type of work is undertaken throughout the year we would like to use this week to ask parents, guardians and carers who need to drive their children to school to try and park away from the school in a safe place and walk the last few hundred yards as this may help stop traffic congestion and potential collisions outside schools.

“We will also reinforce key personal safety messages to students walking to school to help them keep safe.”

Advice to stay safe en route to and from school includes walking with a friend or in a group if possible, avoiding being distracted by wearing headphones or chatting on the phone while walking and avoiding poorly lit areas.

Visit www.walktoschool.org.uk.