Prince Michael launches Walk Safe in Wiltshire

His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent has launched Walk Safe, a new child pedestrian programme in Wiltshire.

Walk Safe is aimed at Key Stages 1 and 2 and has been developed by Wiltshire County Council Road Safety Unit, and is endorsed by the Healthy Schools Programme. It provides schools with a resource to enhance their delivery of the Personal, Social and Health Education curriculum and the National Healthy Schools Standard - of which road safety is a component part.

The Walk Safe syllabus and protocol has been sent to all eligible schools in Wiltshire and so far 78 per cent of schools in the county have signed up and committed to running the new programme. Walk Safe comprises a classroom based talk and discussion session with an accompanying video, followed by a practical training session.

‘It is important to give educational awareness to this age group in order for them to understand the environment in which they have to move about, making them safe and competent in their travels," says Patrick McEune, county road safety manager. "You cannot train the child out of the child that is within them, but this will give them some basic skills.’

Wiltshire’s director of environmental services George Batten and a number of county councillors joined His Royal Highness on a short walk using the Walk Safe initiative.

For more information about the programme and video contact Patrick McEune on 01225 701970 or roadsafety@wiltshire.gov.uk