TfB gets help with spreading their winter safety message

Keeping safe in the winter is important, no matter how old you are, and this year Transport for Buckinghamshire enlisted the help of primary schools, Brownies and Scouts tohelp spread their safety message.

Schools were tasked with writing a song or poem about winter weather,the importance of checking your vehicle and the role of TfB during cold weather. Scouts and Brownies were given the opportunity to design a winter character to help remind road users to keep safe throughout the season.

The response was overwhelming, with schools, Scouts and Brownies up and down the county getting involved in thinking up new ways of spreading the important winter messages.

Year 6 at Ickford School produced a winning rap, writing the lyrics and making up actions to let people know about safe driving during winter. Dawn Basnett, Assistant Headteacher at Ickford said, “It was a complete class effort; the children really enjoyed working together to write the poem, creating the actions and make the props. We were delighted to win and we are now looking forward to seeing the new Buckinghamshire gritteron the roads!”

TfB has two new gritters this season, and soon we will see the first,‘Dawn Raider’, helping to keep our roads safe, named by the winning class.

You can view the winning entry, along with two runners up – Elmhurst School and Dropmore Infant School – by visiting TfB’s YouTube channel:

Ickford – https://youtu.be/3Cn_8bZATbs

Dropmore – https://youtu.be/FYRpjbYla24

Elmhurst – https://youtu.be/osksn5yAHVw

1st Hyde Heath Brownies produced a winning entry to help encourage road users to keep safe through the winter. The Frozen Donut, designed by Daisy, is wrapped up warm and will appear on TfB’s gritters with the message, “DO-NUT get caught out this winter!” This will help remind road users to carry out their vehicle checks and prepare for driving during wintery conditions.There are many ways to ensure you don’t get caught out in the cold during the season.

  • Make sure you check your vehicle is ready for the winter, check your tyres, wipers and washer fluid
  • Carry a torch, blankets, de-icer and anice scraper
  • Check the weather before travelling
  • Only travel when necessary during severe weather

Remembering these important points will ensure that residents and road users are prepared for the cold weather and they don’t get caught out!

Mark Shaw, Cabinet Member for Transportation at Buckinghamshire County Council said, “It is clear thathuge effort that went into all these entries and I am delighted that schools, Brownies and Scouts were eager to get involved and help us out with our winter plans.

“Spreading the message of being safe on the roads in winter is so important, and I hope that all the children that took part will remember to share this with their friends and parents.”

All things winter related can be found on TfB’s website – www.buckscc.gov.uk/winter.