New 'real-life' pedestrian crossing built to teach kids about road safety

The realistic pedestrian is used to show the dangers of crossing the road using a phone or headphones.

There’s a new road safety tool at a Leicester charity’s visitor centre where 10 and 11-year-olds are taught vital health and safety advice.

Through the support of the county council, the Warning Zone life-skills centre at Frog Island, Leicester now has a new pedestrian crossing in its road safety zone, helping youngsters stay safe on the county's roads, particularly as they make the transition to senior school.

The realistic pedestrian crossing, has been developed by County Hall highways teams, with support from the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership (LLRRSP), highways infrastructure company Colas Ltd and traffic light supplier TRP Products.

The road safety zone offers children an insight into the dangers of using a mobile phone or headphones when crossing the road. There is also advice on how to keep safe while cycling.

Councillor Ozzy O’Shea, county council cabinet member for highways and transport, paid a visit to see the new zone, along with children from Little Bowden Primary School, Market Harborough.

He said: “Teaching our children about road safety is incredibly important. By working with the organisations who are involved in producing ‘real-life’ road schemes, it ensures the zone is as realistic as possible and offers children the safest environment in which to learn.

“I want to say a huge thank you to the companies we work with on highways projects who have helped us make improvements to this zone a possibility with their kind donations.

"We are so lucky to have the Warning Zone close by to help us protect and prepare our children and we are keen to continue to support the centre.” 

Other safety zones at the Warning Zone include fire risks at home, water safety, and understanding the dangers of electricity. 

Elaine Stevenson, CEO of the Warning Zone, said: “We are so happy to have a real, working pedestrian crossing in our road safety zone. It’s been made possible by a lot of generous support. The children are loving it.”