Making our Kids Road-wise - Council Provides Free Activity Books

10.02.33pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 12th Aug 2007

Free activity books designed to teach children how to keep safe on the roads this summer are part of a safety campaign run by Milton Keynes Council.

The activity books are designed to teach important road safety messages in an entertaining, fun way when children have time on their hands during the school summer holidays.

The scheme is a bid to reduce the number of children injured on the city's roads.

In the last three years, there has been an average of about one accident a week involving children aged under 11, including:

• 2 fatalities

• 17 serious injuries

• 182 slight injuries.

The activity books contain a wide range of useful information for child road users and their parents. Topics include:

• cycling

• pedestrian safety

• being a vehicle passenger.

There are lots of fun activities to complete that teach essential road safety skills.

Liberal Democrat councillor Chris Williams, cabinet member responsible for Transport, said: "These activity books are being made available free of charge to try to keep children throughout Milton Keynes safe during the summer and into the autumn.

"They will raise children's awareness of road safety issues in a fun and stimulating way. However, we hope that parents will work through these books with their children, and raise their own awareness of road safety matters at the same time. This will help us see a reduction in the number of children injured on our roads."

There are two activity books available, linked to a child's learning ability and age:

• Activity Book 1 aimed at 5-8 year olds

• Activity Book 2 aimed at 8-11 year olds.

The free books are available from libraries throughout Milton Keynes including the mobile library. Alternatively, you can contact the road safety team on 01908-254601 or visit the road safety website www.hedgehogs.gov.uk.