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11-14 year old children - Keystage 3

Click here to download Keystage 3 as a PDF

Pedestrians casualties are similar to the level at keystage 2 but cycling casualties have doubled. Road safety activities are focussed on improving their attitudes in the traffic environment. They may have experienced the safer cycling courses in keystage 2, but these pupils are at the peak age for cycle accidents:

• they make longer and more frequent journeys;
• they are at risk of head injuries from falls from vehicles on and off the road;
• they are increasingly influenced by peer group pressure and are beginning to adopt adult crossing strategies which may not follow the safest procedures

Children of this age need to:

LEARN

• How to assess risk in different situations.
• How to keep safe in traffic when out alone or out with friends.
• How to identify real friends and "safe" adults.
• To resist pressure from others to do things which they know to be unsafe or not sensible, and the words they need to use to do this.
• About local roads and traffic conditions and the effect these have upon their own behaviour.
• The rules regulating traffic especially those applying to young road users, particularly pedestrians and cyclists.
• How to maintain on and off road vehicles in a safe condition.
• Safe crossing strategies.
• How to plan and time journeys, read maps and use timetables.
• How to identify and plan the safest route to and from places.
• How to inform others of where they are going, how long they will be and who they are with.
• The causes of common traffic accidents involving young people.
• What to do if an accident happens.
• How to get help when it is needed.

PRACTICE

• To use things safely and to travel safely.
• To assess and manage risk in different situations.
• To have fun, feel good, feel safe and keep safe.
• To resist threats, persuasion and bullying.
• To plan and time journeys.
• To react properly and effectively in the event of an accident.
• To present problems, solutions and requests for action to those who control change in the local and/or national environment.

UNDERSTAND

• That greater independence means greater responsibility for the safety of themselves and others.
• That they have a right to resist pressure to do things, which they know are unsafe or not sensible.
• That they still need help to keep safe and that asking for help is acceptable and sensible.
• That accidents have far reaching consequences and affect the victims, their families and the community.

(Ref.: Secondary schools, - A major 3-year project by the Transport Research Laboratory for the Department of Transport to establish road safety education firmly within the school curriculum. Published: 15 June 1998.)

At home
How risky are you, try this: http://www.lifebytes.gov.uk/safety/safe_risky.htm

Cycling Accidents - Facts and Figures - June 2005

ACCIDENT PATTERNS
Every year in this country over 15,000 cyclists are killed or injured in reported road accidents, including more than 2,100 who are killed or seriously injured.
For further information go to: http://www.rospa.org.uk/roadsafety/advice/cycling/cycling_accidents.htm

At school
Mathematics and science can provide pupils with the opportunity to gain experience of judging speed and distance through measurement of the speed of traffic for the safe environment of the school grounds.

Science
Year 7
Unit 7K Forces and their effects
Section 11 – What affects how quickly a car stops
Unit 9B – Fit and Healthy
Section 7 – How does alcohol affect the body
Section 10 – What affects do drugs have
Unit 9K – Speeding up
Section 3 – How fast is it moving and reaction times
This will help to develop those skills needed to judge the speed and distance in effecting safe cross strategies.

All resources are provided free of charge, although some are offered on a returnable basis. Your area Road Safety Officer will be happy to discuss your requirements and provide resources appropriate to your needs. Posters and other road safety materials are also available free of charge from the 'Department for Transport' visit the DfT website link to order direct. www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/catalogue/index.htm All school-based resources are provided free of charge to Suffolk schools, although some are offered on a returnable basis. Posters for display and interactive use (safety education posters - infant) can be viewed following the link to the 'Shop with RoSPA' http://www.rospa.co.uk/index.htm    Please email the Road Safety Team for further information West Suffolk: david.daw@suffolk.gov.uk North Suffolk: ann.battershill@suffolk.gov.uk South Suffolk: martin.andrew@suffolk.gov.uk