Pupil power wins prizes

Road safety students from schools around the UK have scooped prizes for themselves and their schools in a nationwide competition. The RAC has rewarded four teams for their top class entries in its annual Grass Routes challenge.

Grass Routes is now in its fourth year and the Grass Routes pack contains lesson plans, maps, overheads and useful information on formulating a school travel plan. Over 2,300 UK secondary schools took the pack in 2002-03, which is targeted at pupils aged 11-14 – the age group most likely to be victims of road traffic accidents.

The finalists represent King James School, Knaresborough, Malton School, Malton, St Mary’s Catholic College, Wallasey and Langley Park School for Boys, Beckenham.

Individual team members each received a mountain bike with a cycle helmet as well as a state-of-the-art laptop computer equipped with mapping software for their geography departments. The teams will now go forward to the national final to be held at the House of Commons in October when they will battle it out against each other for the title of RAC Grass Routes Winner 2002-2003.

"The students’ work on improving their routes to school really impressed the judges," said RAC community affairs manager Nicola Thunhurst. "It’s vital that children keep learning new road safety skills so that they can get to school safely and enjoy the independence of travel that their parents may often worry about giving them.

"The pupils all deserve prizes after the hard work they’ve put into their projects. I’m sure they will now have the skills to stay safe on the roads," she concluded.

Updated Grass Roots packs will be available for the new school year and RSOs wishing to obtain a pack for themselves or for schools in their area should send an email to Nicola Thunhurst at nthunhurst@rac.co.uk