A school in Co Fermanagh was one of many schools across the UK to take part in a protest highlighting the need for better protection for children on the roads on Wednesday.
Pupils from Jones Memorial Primary School were among 90,000 pupils to take to the streets to raise awareness that nearly 15,000 children die each year on Britain’s roads.
According to figures published for Northern Ireland over the past five years, an average of 831 children die or are injured in road traffic accidents each year. NI was among the highest casualty rates compared to the national average, according to figures from the Department for Transport.
READ MORE: Enniskillen named winner of Ireland’s best-kept town award
At Wednesday’s demonstration in Enniskillen , students walked in small groups in crocodile formation and dressed in bright striped clothing. They were accompanied by local police who also joined in the event. School teacher Gareth Barbour was among those involved in organizing the event, along with road safety foundation Brake.
“The purpose of this event was to make everyone aware of the dangers of the road and how we can stay safe when traveling,” said Gareth. MyFermanagh .
“We were supported in this event by the PSNI and they helped with traffic control on the main road next to our school. The money raised during this event will be sent directly to Brake to help support families and young people affected by road accidents.
“We did a one kilometer loop around the area and were delighted to be accompanied by members of the PSNI as well. Research shows that far too many children are injured or killed in road accidents and that is why we as a school thought it was important to get involved.
Some of the school students involved in the demonstration also included tips they learned that day.
“Always keep an eye on the road and concentrate when crossing,” said P6 student Emily.
Xavier from the Learning Support class added: “Wear light-coloured clothes when walking on the side of the road, it could save your life.
Scott Williams, Program Delivery Manager at Brake, said, “Every child has the right to be able to walk in their community without fear of traffic and pollution. It is vital that children can safely walk around the places where they live. We are thrilled that so many children, schools and families are taking part in the 2022 Brake’s Kids Walk and claiming what they need to travel safely.
READ NEXT:
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up for our FREE newsletters, click here.
