Pupils give drivers a speeding lesson

A GROUP of Farnham pupils have been teaching speeding motorists the dangers of driving too fast around schools. More than 70 year six pupils from Hale Primary School took part in a three-day School Speed Watch. The aim of the initiative was to educate drivers that the 30mph limit is there for good reason and to encourage them to slow down. Over the three days the pupils spoke to 75 speeding drivers in Upper Hale Road. The road has a 30mph limit and all the drivers were travelling over 36mph. The children, wearing yellow tabards, assisted police using equipment to catch speeding motorists with the help of Waverley casualty reduction officer Pc Dave Thomas and local neighbourhood officers. Once the drivers were stopped they were given the opportunity to take part in roadside education as an alternative to prosecution. This involved them being interviewed by the pupils who asked probing questions as to why they were driving so fast outside their school. It is hoped that after discussions with the children, the motorists will think more carefully about driving slowly in future. Pc Thomas said: ""This was an ideal opportunity to educate children about road safety as well as raising awareness among drivers about the dangers of speeding around schools. I am pleased to say that the response from the motorists was very encouraging. "I would like to take the opportunity to thank staff and children from the Hale Primary School and particularly the motorists who were stopped and took the advice offered well." As a follow up exercise, Zoe Gamblin from Surrey County Council Safer and Smarter Travel team provided the school with educational teaching packs for the pupils to use in class. She commented: "School Speed Watch allows drivers the opportunity to reflect on the possible consequences of driving over the speed limit. Through this scheme we are urging all drivers to slow down, to drive within the speed limit and according to the conditions. "It is also an opportunity to educate children about road safety - after all, they are our drivers of the future."