Road safety was put under the spotlight for hundreds of pupils at a special training day in a Basingstoke hotel.Youngsters aged from nine to 11 took part in Hampshire County Council’s Junior Road Safety Officer (JRSO) training day at the Hampshire Court Hotel on Great Binfields Road on September 6.
Pupils from primary schools in Ashford Hill, Burghclere Primary School, Bramley, Castle Hill, Chalk Ridge, and Burnham Copse, joined other primaries from across Hampshire.
Now in its third year, the JRSO scheme teaches two chosen pupils from each school the skills needed to stay safe and pass on the message to their friends.
Chris Collins, from Hampshire’s road safety team said getting youngsters to teach their pals was a better way to drive the message home.
He said: “Students back at the schools will relay the messages better rather than yet another adult going in and telling them.”
On Wednesday, pupils took part in interactive quizzes to different scenarios, designed t-shirts promoting safety messages, and brainstormed ways to pass on the messages.
Eleven-year-old Joseph Plested, and 10-year-old Jennifer Hudson were two JSRO’s in training for Bramley Primary School.
They said they were looking forward to their ambassador roles. Joseph said: “The day so far has really helped. I have learned today that you really have to be safe and think about what you are doing, otherwise there could be some horrible consequences.”
