As part of this year’s Road Safety Week, Leicester waste management and recycling company – Wastecycle – has partnered with a local primary school to spread road safety awareness among lorry drivers visiting the firm’s Wesley Street waste recycling facility.
Students from Belgrave St Peter’s School, just a minute’s walk from Wastecycle, created a range of colourful pictures depicting the importance of driving cautiously along Thurcaston Road and Wesley Street, the roads leading to Wastecycle’s local facility. The hand-drawn warnings include tips on how to drive safely, like following signs and being aware of children and people in the area, as well as illustrating warnings to drive slowly.
After receiving the designs, Wastecycle created leaflets using the students’ artwork, which are currently being distributed to drivers crossing the site’s weighbridge.
Paul Clements, Commercial Director at Wastecycle, said: “As part of our ongoing health and safety campaign, we planned to design and distribute our own generic road safety leaflets to visitors to the site – but after welcoming Belgrave St Peter’s School’s Eco Club for a visit earlier this year, we thought that using images drawn by children would prove more impactful.
“The students’ designs are very, very well done and really showcase the importance of road safety, particularly along Thurcaston Road and Wesley Street where many students walk on a daily basis during term times.
“Now that we have our leaflets printed, our next aim is to create a massive two-metre banner with the students’ drawings on it to display on the school fence by Thurcaston Road for maximum impact.”
Belgrave St Peter’s School student, Mary-Kim, 10, said: “I’m really excited about Wastecycle using my drawing! Driving safely is very important, especially when there are children and schools nearby.”
Michelle Forbes, Pastoral at Belgrave St Peter’s School, added: “Our students really got into the project, brainstorming ways on how adults can drive more safely, especially around areas like Thurcaston Road and Wesley Street where there is always a steady flow of young people and parents making the school run throughout the day.
“Each student took a turn adding to a list of ways people can be safer drivers before breaking out the crayons to design their very own warning signs for Wastecycle. All of the kids got involved and enjoyed the project, which helped open their eyes to the importance of road safety.”
Taking place from 21st to 27th November, Road Safety Week is the UK’s biggest road safety event, coordinated annually by Brake and involving thousands of schools, organisations and communities each year. The awareness week aims to inspire communities to take action on road safety and promote life-saving messages while also providing a focal point for professionals working in road safety to boost awareness and engagement in their work.
