Road Safety

Education

Contact Us

If you require assistance regarding road safety education for your school, college or community group, please email Road_Safety@sandwell.gov.uk, including your name and address, log an enquiry via My Sandwell or call 0121 368 1177.

Early Years Provision

We visit pre-school groups and nurseries to introduce very young children to the language of road safety. Through storytelling, songs and interactive activities, we familiarise children with safer crossing places and the importance of being seated in a child car seat. We also liaise with libraries to attend their Play, Talk, Read sessions for under 5s.

Primary School Provision

In Sandwell, we focus on working with pupils in Reception and Year 3. We arrange practical road safety walks around the local community to help them gain key pedestrian skills through Child Pedestrian Safety Training (CPST).

We also support Year 6 pupils to plan routes, remember road safety rules and manage distractions. They will be expected to travel independently and be responsible for their own decision making on their journey to secondary school.

Key primary school messages include:

Stop, Look, Listen and Think!
Use of safer crossing places (Zebra Crossing, Puffin Crossing, School Crossing Patrol)
Wearing a seatbelt and using car seats
Avoiding distractions (mobile devices)
Independent journeys (pedestrian / cyclist)

Please view our Air Quality and Active Travel Flipbook Menu

Secondary School Provision

As students progress through secondary school, pedestrian safety and managing distractions remains as important as ever. The majority of road safety education in secondary schools is delivered in partnership with West Midlands Fire Service through a variety of initiatives and campaigns.

Post 16 Provision

As students progress into college, university and the world of work, their focus changes to the prospect of learning to drive and being a safe passenger.

Drive 2 Arrive – In October, Black Country local authorities in conjunction with our partner agencies hold an annual Drive 2 Arrive young driver event at Bescot Stadium, Walsall to enable sixth form aged students to benefit from crucial driving messages.
‘For the One I Love’ – In February, we launch our annual ‘For the One I Love’ campaign around Valentine’s Day at Sandwell College. We remind the students to look out ‘for the one you love’, e.g., a girlfriend, boyfriend, mates or family members and identifies the terrible consequences for both drivers and passengers when things go wrong.

First Car have published e-magazines for young drivers, young motorcyclists and parents with helpful tips and advice.

West Midlands Fire Service’s ‘Every Choice Counts’ presentation reinforces key messages of being a responsible driver or passenger when travelling in a vehicle and explores coping strategies to handle risky situations.

West Midlands Police offer advice and information regarding road safety, especially for young and inexperienced drivers.

Active Sustainable Travel

We encourage schools, parents, pupils and school staff to be TravelWise and to make sustainable journeys where possible. TravelWise provides important travel information when you travel by car, public transport, cycle or walk.

Auntie Duck – An air quality themed story book, which helps children to navigate the complex subject of air pollution. Our Active Travel Team provide a free Auntie Duck resource pack for teachers and parents.
Healthy Sandwell – Dedicated to transforming the way people travel around the borough. Small changes in your daily commute can make a significant impact.
Living Streets WOW – A pupil-led initiative where children self-report how they travel to school using the interactive WOW Travel Tracker. If they travel sustainably once a week for a month, they are rewarded with a badge.
Modeshift Stars – A national accreditation programme designed to support schools to improve their pupils’ health and wellbeing. STAR Travel Plans promote active and sustainable travel for school journeys.

Partner Organisations

Mature Drivers

Driving Safer for Longer – For mature drivers, a driving licence is an important symbol of independence. Sandwell, Dudley, Wolverhampton, and Walsall Councils along with West Midlands Police, West Midlands Fire Service and National Highways are committed to helping people retain their independent mobility whilst remaining safe on the road.
Older Drivers Forum – A not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers to support mature motorists on how to continue driving safely for longer.
National Highways – Guidance when driving on motorways.
I am Road Smart – Their Mature Driver Review will help to boost your confidence behind the wheel and suggest further training.
Is Your Vision Roadworthy – The importance of good vision for driving.

First Car have published a mature drivers e-magazine with helpful tips and advice.

Safer 6

Sandwell’s Safer 6 is an annual six-week campaign across our six towns run by council services and external partners to address concerns, provide information and promote services to help people in Sandwell stay safe and healthy.

School Crossing Patrols

The Road Safety Team provides numerous School Crossing Patrol Operatives (SCPOs) across Sandwell to ensure travel to and from school is as safe as possible within our communities. The SCPO’s role is to stop traffic and ensure the safety of pedestrians crossing the road at a designated point between specific times suitable to the needs of the local school(s).

Pedestrians:

Wait with the SCPO on the pavement.
The SCPO will use the STOP sign to instruct the traffic to stop. DO NOT FOLLOW THEM.
When the SCPO has indicated it is safe to cross – please do so in front of them.
The SCPO will remain in the centre of the road until all pedestrians are safely across.

“Even when a School Crossing Patrol Operative is provided, parents remain responsible for making sure their children get to school safely, just as they do when a Zebra or Puffin Crossing is provided.” (Road Safety GB).

Risk assessments for each location are reviewed by The Road Safety Team on an annual basis.

The Road Safety Team will endeavour to notify schools at the earliest opportunity with regards to absences of School Crossing Patrol Operatives.

Road Safety GB have published this SCPOs leaflet for parents and drivers.

School Streets

School Streets is a nationally recognised project to promote sustainable travel and reduce the impact of school gate parking by restricting vehicle movement. Sandwell’s first ‘School Street’ is at the Ferndale Avenue entrance of Ferndale Primary School, Great Barr.

Benefits of a ‘School Street’:

It makes it easier for everyone to walk to and from the school gate
Fewer cars mean cleaner air
The safer environment encourages walking to school and improves road safety
It is good for mental and physical health and improves fitness
Children can socialise with their friends