On dark nights and in bad weather, all pedestrians and children are vulnerable on the roads. This is because they are less visible to motorists.
We have put together a programme known as the 'Twilight Trail' to present the Be Safe, Be Seen message to children within primary schools. The Twilight Trails provide children with a fun and interactive lesson about the importance of being seen when out in poor light.
The Twilight Trail involves one of our members of staff making an initial visit to your school to risk assess the playground/outside area.
On the day of the Twilight Trail, staff arrive at the school and hang reflective items in the outside area before the event starts.
Children arrive at school at dusk. They meet in the hall or classroom and receive a short talk. We then take them outside to shine their torches, which they need to bring with them, at the reflective items.
Our officers will explain to the children how a vehicle's headlight shining onto a reflective surface, can increase a pedestrian’s visibility in poor light.
The event lasts for approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. The children are given a reflective to take home.
Download the Twilight Trails ToolkitThe toolkit is a fun way to be safe and be seen in the dark. This document tells you all you need to know to set up and run a Twilight Trail at your school.
We have a selection of fluorescent and reflective items, such as stickers and armbands, for sale at cost price. This encourages parents to help their children 'glow safely' throughout the autumn and winter months. For more information on these items, or on the Twilight Trail, please contact us at roadsafety@cornwall.gov.uk or 01726 72582.
The Facts
- The single biggest child safety issue for children in the UK is being killed or injured in a road collision.
- In 2013, a total of 113 children were injured on Cornwall's roads. 55 children were injured as pedestrians or cyclists.
- More than twice as many boys as girls are killed or seriously injured in pedestrian and cycle accidents.
- Most child pedestrian accidents happen close to home, on residential roads.
- During school term time, accidents peak when children travel to and from school. This is between the hours of
- 8 and 9 o'clock in the morning
- 3 and 6 o'clock in the afternoon
- Child road accident rates increase during the summer months when they spend time playing outside without supervision.
- Secondary school aged children are most at risk of being involved in a pedestrian or cycle accident.
- Drivers can make the most difference in reducing road accidents by slowing down especially when children are around.
- Even in good weather conditions the difference between 30mph and 35mph is an extra stopping distance of about six and a half metres. This is around the length of three hospital beds.