Road Safety Skill Test
Bronze, Silver and Gold tests have been developed to test the road safety skills of children who use organised walk to school schemes each week.
Created in a simple to use flashcard format the colourful cards follow the adventures of the charity's new road safety character, Jack, and his friends to help test and explain skills at the three levels.
Children who pass one of the tests receive a textile badge similar to those created for the Scouts or Guides, which they can stitch to their tabard or baseball cap.
Test packs have been sent to all Walking Bus schools where they should be stored for use by Walking Bus co-ordinators at the agreed dates. For 2010 the target week when tests should be taken is the weeks of:
- October 17, 2011.
- February 6, 2012.
- May 21, 2012.
Once a child passes their bronze and silver badge they are able to take the gold test which includes a practical assessment of their behaviour and conduct on the Walking Bus. Only children in the final two years of primary school may take the gold badge, but once they pass it their receive a limited edition blue tabard with the words 'crew' on it, in recognition of the supportive role they are playing on the scheme in their final terms on the Walking Bus.
Highway maintenance firm Ringway are the main sponsors of the road safety skill tests, having donated £3,000 towards their development, the creation of the flashcards and the purchase of the special blue crew tabards. Creative Venom, of Cromwell Road, Whitstable, has used its design team to create the flashcards and printers D.Isom Printers, also a regular supporter of the children's road safety charity, has waived a sizeable chunk of the costs for their involvement.
Michelle Mitchell, contracts manager of Ringway, said: "We are delighted to assist the KM Walking Bus Project with this important initiative. Ensuring children are equipped with vital road safety skills is such a worthwhile cause."
Simon Dolby, chairman of the Walking Bus Project, said: "Ringway, Creative Venom and D.Isom Printers have been tremendously supportive of this initiative every step of the way through its development."
As well as the KM Group, the walking bus, which is a KCC and Medway Council -led initiative, is sponsored by Denne, Bel UK, Ringway, Veolia Environmental Services, Eurostar, AXA PPP Healthcare and the Co-operative.