School pupils get 'high vis' creative

Crafty youngsters from across the Island have been designing bright and reflective school bags to make sure they are seen and safe during the darker winter months.

Brighten Your Bag encourages pupils to consider how they are seen while travelling — and teaches them how to make themselves more visible to other road users.

Key Stage 1 children are tasked with designing their own bright bag on paper whereas pupils in Key Stage 2 are invited to get crafty and decorate their school bag with fluorescent and reflective materials.

Lewis Campbell, the Isle of Wight Council's road safety officer, said: "Road Safety is an important life skill for children to learn, and fun activities such as Brighten Your Bag are a great way to engage them with road safety education.

"This scheme helps children to understand why being visible helps them stay safer, particularly during the winter months when daylight hours are reduced. A huge thank you to all schools that took part, and congratulations to the winners.”

This year the competition was Island-wide in Junior Travel Ambassador (JTA) participating schools. Southern Vectis sponsored the competition, offering one ticket for their popular Christmas lights tour, and two 24-hour family rover tickets.

Zoe Stroud, the bus company's senior marketing executive, said: “It is important in rural communities, such as the Island, that everyone is seen on the roadside during darker evenings.

“The Brighten the Bag initiative helps promote the positive be safe and be seen messages to pupils and all bus users.

“The entries were fantastic, and it was really difficult to choose between them all. The creative flair shown was inspirational. Wearing bright clothes and adding reflective elements to school bags helps keep the island safe.”

The winners of this year's competition and their prizes are as follows:

Key Stage 1:

• Winner — Figgy, Queensgate Primary, a scooter.
• Runner-up 1 — Clara, Gatten and Lake Primary, high visibility backpack.
• Runner-up 2 — Rhys, St Thomas, 24-hour family rover bus ticket.

Key Stage 2:

• Winner — Erin, St Thomas, scooter, ticket to the Christmas lights tour.
• Runner-up 1 — Annie, Newchurch, high visibility backpack.
• Runner-up 2 — Summer, Haylands Primary, 24-hour family rover bus ticket.

Erin, the winner of Key Stage 2 category, said: “I made my bag to be as bright as I could, and I used some hi-vis vests that I cut up. I did different designs on both sides to make it bright and interesting and I thought more people might use it if there was a choice.

“One side has reflective roads and lighting bolts; I put lightning bolts because I love Harry Potter. The other side was to warn other road users to ‘Look Out’, which is really important. You can choose which side you want depending on how you feel and where you might be.

“I looked online for inspiration and a lot of the bags were just one fluorescent colour, I wanted my bag to be different.”

Primary schools seeking to deliver road safety education for their pupils can sign-up to the council's Junior Travel Ambassador scheme, providing them with the tools and resources to deliver an annual programme of road safety and sustainable travel themed activities.

Schools taking part can achieve Bronze level Modeshift STARS accreditation too.

Louise Parkin, head of Newchurch Primary School, said: “This is our second year of taking part in the JTA scheme and we have really enjoyed participating.

“The Brighten Your Bag competition is always very well received, and the children always think carefully about how to make their designs roadworthy and bright.

“The resources that we are given are very child friendly and easy to use and the JTAs really enjoy taking assemblies in order to deliver crucial messages and also love the chance to work with the younger children in the school to help to teach them about road safety.”

Lewis added: "Being safe and seen is not just for children either. Adult pedestrians, cyclists, horse-riders and motorcyclists should ensure they're visible to other road users by wearing bright, reflective clothing and accessories.

"Same goes for those renting Beryl e-bikes and e-scooters. Drivers should also be vigilant and aware of these vulnerable road users that share the road with them. We all have a part to play; be a positive role model within our communities and help keep each other safe."

Schools interested in signing-up to the JTA scheme can contact Lewis at: lewis.campbell@iow.gov.uk