Rustington pupils promote safer habits on the roads

Dozens of concerned pupils from Rustington’s three primary schools have combined forces in an attempt to deter dangerous driving outside their schools and to encourage safer habits from motorists.

For the past few months, children from Rustington Community Primary School, Summerlea Primary School and Georgian Gardens Primary School have been taking part in regular school travel plan meetings, to discuss how they can tackle parking problems and speeding near their schools.

The result of their determined hard work is a pair of eye-catching banners, designed entirely by the children, to raise awareness of their campaign.

The two banners, copies of which have since been placed outside of each of the participating schools, give the messages “No Need to Speed”, and “Don’t Park on the Yellow Mark”.

The campaign, which has been supported by West Sussex County Council, Sussex Police and graphic designers from Littlehampton’s Bay Studio, also includes special parent parking promise discs, created by the youngsters in a bid to reduce parking congestion outside the schools.

Parents are asked to place the disc in their car, to remind them not to park on the yellow, zig-zag sections of the road, and to watch their speed, especially near schools.

Sara Hopkins, community links leader at Summerlea, and the project’s co-ordinator, said: “It has been a really positive experience working with the children and staff from the other schools to make this a Rustington-wide collaboration.

“They have been very committed and enthusiastic about the campaign.

“We are all looking forward to seeing our parents driving around with their promises in their car windows. Thank you to everyone who has helped us.”

Adam Heffer, of Angmering BMW dealer Chandlers, has helped to support the campaign, providing free disk holders.

He said: “The fact is that some schools do suffer from hazardous road conditions – particularly when parents come to pick up their children.

“Sometimes, clear vision on to the road is very difficult, with the amount of parents parking on the zig-zag yellow lines.

“Hopefully, this will have a real impact in lowering these figures, helping to make the road safer for children, and other road users.”

Rustington’s school travel campaign began at Summerlea about three years ago.

However, this is the first time all three school have been involved and worked together on the project.