Heavy lesson in road safety for South Lanarkshire youngsters

South Lanarkshire Council and Wincanton, one of the UK’s largest logistics companies, have joined forces to co-ordinate and deliver a road safety initiative focusing on heavy goods vehicles.

As part of the initiative children are taken through specially-devised exercises to highlight the dangers posed by HGVs and are given the opportunity to see the road from a driver’s perspective. Children sit behind the wheel of a truck to find out for themselves how difficult it is for an HGV driver to see objects or people when they are directly in front of the vehicle.

Wincanton representatives also explain to pupils how the weight and volume of a large vehicle makes it much harder to manoeuvre, and how the loud noises and strong side winds a lorry creates can be dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists.

"Our ongoing programme with Wincanton is an innovative and practical method of increasing children’s awareness of the dangers of traffic," councillor Billy McCaig, chair of road safety explained. "As well as pupils who attend schools close to busy routes for heavy goods vehicles, it is important that all children should be taught about the dangers associated with HGVs.

"This joint exercise has helped make the children more aware of how pedestrians and cyclists can stay safe around these vehicles and we are grateful to Wincanton for their ongoing commitment."