Lincolnshire Free Press and Ashwood Homes Be Bright Be Seen campaign hailed by road safety experts
Experts say our Be Bright Be Seen campaign can help prevent the ‘heartache’ of a crash on the roads — and urged children to wear their free reflective discs with pride.
Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership (LRSP) says sporting a reflective disc on a bag or coat can ‘make the difference’ and keep children safer on their way to school or clubs in the darker winter months.
The discs are being handed out as part of a campaign run by Lincolnshire Free Press and Ashwood Homes.
The first batch is due to be delivered this week — and we have ordered a second set to try to fulfil as many orders as possible.
An LRSP spokesman said: “The success of the Be Bright Be Seen campaign that is being run by Lincolnshire Free Press and Ashwood Homes is absolutely fantastic. As the darker nights draw in, such a simple idea can make all the difference in keeping our younger community safe when using our roads.
“We have been very pleased as a Partnership to help support this initiative through our existing relationships with schools in the locality where the campaign is occurring. Anything that we can all do as individuals to promote road safety is what we should be aspiring to, so if you are in an eligible area, then please do make the effort to acquire a reflective disc.
“Just think, that one small disc may make the difference between your child being seen or missed on a dark morning or evening. If the campaign prevents even one injury and the associated heartache that comes with that, then it has all been very worthwhile.
“So remember, if driving on our roads in those darker hours, make sure your headlights are working and your eyesight is legal to use the roads. It is spotting that reflection from the disc that could be the difference in a child getting home safely from their journey, and none of us want to hurt a child do we?”
Orders are now closed — and we’ve seen a big response from schools and clubs across the area. The need to be seen will be particularly acute after the clocks go back on Sunday, October 26.
Ashwood Homes managing director Nigel Parsons said: "We're thrilled with the amazing response to the Be Bright Be Seen campaign.
"It's great to hear that so many children are going to be able to wear their reflective discs and be more visible during the darker winter months.
"We are proud to have done our bit to help ensure our children are as safe as possible as they go to and from school and clubs.
"Safer communities are happy places to live and we want to do our bit to improve life for families across the district."
Accident statistics show that the hour between 3pm and 4pm is the most common time for a pedestrian to suffer an injury on Lincolnshire’s roads.