Selfish and inconsiderate drivers beware – pupils are taking back ownership of their safety!

Ysgol Yr Eos in Penygraig has recently appointed a team of Junior Road Safety Officers (JRSOs) who will work with experts at the Council and the police to enhance awareness and safety at their school.

The four JRSOs will not only help to raise general awareness about road safety, but also to help tackle the ongoing issues of those who park illegally and obstructively outside schools, especially on zig-zag and double yellow lines.

Abbie O’Leary and Liam Williams from Year 5 and Morgan Williams and Own Pritchard from Year 6 were appointed JRSOs by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Road Safety Projects Officer, Paula Perry, during a special school assembly.

They were presented with their uniforms and certificates in front of their fellow pupils, teachers and parents at the assembly, which also included a general road safety presentation.

As well as appointing the JRSOs, the assembly was also used to launch a special campaign against illegal, dangerous and inconsiderate parking outside schools.

The JRSOs will be working with the Council’s Road Safety Project Officer and South Wales Police in the coming months to raise awareness of the issue and change the behaviour of motorists who park on zig-zag and double yellow lines outside schools.

The Junior Road Safety Officer (JRSO) scheme is operated at schools across RCT and empowers children to have an understanding of road safety issues, so they can raise awareness among their fellow pupils, parents and the wider community.

Working closely with the dedicated Road Safety Unit officers from the Council, the appointed JRSOs work within their school, keeping an information board updated, running road safety competition, giving presentations and assemblies and generally keeping the important issue at the forefront of minds.

Cllr John David, Cabinet Member for Communities and Chair of the Rhondda Cynon Taf Community Safety Partnership, said: “All communities are consulted on the issues that concern them the most and road safety, especially parking and the behaviour of motorists outside or near schools remains a priority issue.

“The JRSO scheme has been running across RCT for many years with the aim of educating and empowering young people so they can not only protect themselves and others, but can also teach motorists an important lesson as well.

“We are pleased to welcome the latest JRSOs to the team and hope they can continue the success we have seen so far – they have very important jobs to do, especially when it comes to changing the behaviour and attitude of motorists who think it is OK to park on zig-zag and double yellow lines, endangering children by doing so.”

Inspector Mike Jones, in charge of neighbourhood policing in the Rhondda, said: “The safety of children is paramount and inconsiderate parking by a minority of parents can put other children in grave danger.

We are grateful for the support of Ysgol Yr Eos in tackling this issue and look forward to working with the pupils who have shown remarkable enthusiasm for this project.”