Theatre performance delivers powerful road safety message to secondary school starters

More than 7,500 students have taken part in the Streetwise programme since September.

The production commissioned by the council's road safety team and delivered by Performance in Education helps students to recognise risks, make informed decisions and manage their personal safety.

Each performance is followed by an interactive workshop where students are invited to challenge the attitudes and behaviours they have witnessed, such as being distracted by mobile phones or becoming switched off to your surroundings while using headphones.

The session is followed up with a bespoke scheme of teaching materials to support continued learning.

County Councillor Rupert Swarbrick, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "Starting secondary school is a time of increased risk for many young people as they immediately gain more independence with the travel to and from school, just as the mornings and evenings become darker.

"Our Streetwise programme is designed to alert students to some of the risks on the roads and engage them in how to keep themselves and others safer.

"Teachers tell us that the performance and workshop which follows is compelling and really useful in helping to get the message across.

"I'm grateful to schools for working with us to make our young people more informed and keep them safer on the roads."

If you would like to find out more about Streetwise, please email our road safety team at roadsafetyeducation@lancashire.gov.uk.