‘Snakes & ladders’ game helps with road safety training

A new game based on snakes and ladders is helping children to learn the importance of being safe on Lancashire's roads.

Children at St Helen's Primary School in Overton, where the game originated, got a special preview at the launch last week.

The game teaches children vital road safety lessons, such as holding hands when you cross the road and the importance of playing away from traffic. By making safe decisions in the game, participants climb up ladders. Unsafe actions, such as trying to cross the road when the red man is displayed, result in sliding down the snakes. A copy of the game will be provided to all primary schools across the county from September.

Liz Hampson (left in pic), mother of two former pupils at the school and currently the school's road safety co-ordinator, came up with the idea. "The game introduces literacy and numeracy alongside road safety lessons, like finding a safe place to cross," she explains. "Children across different ages have really enjoyed it."

Year 6 pupil Andrew Sharman added: "It's great to see our ideas in the game. It was fun putting it together and it helps improve your knowledge of road safety."

For further information contact: Stephen Axon, stephen.axon@css.lancscc.gov.uk.