25 October 2005
BE SEEN, BE SAFE ON BIKES
With the clocks changing to winter time, comes a timely reminder from the Department of the Environment (DOE) for child cyclists.
Carol Wilkinson, Manager of the Road Safety Education Officer Service, emphasised that children need to be highly visible to ensure that they can be seen by drivers on dark winter evenings. "As the nights draw in many children will be cycling home from school or taking to their bikes to visit friends in the dark. Darker evenings bring an increased risk to children cycling on our roads.
"We are reminding children and their parents of the need to 'Be Safe, Be Seen'. Make sure that proper lights are fitted to cycles - it is a legal requirement - and that your child wears reflective or bright clothing. The following items provide excellent visibility:
Reflective belts and stickers on jackets and bags; a full white beam on the front and full red beam on the back of cycles; a clean rear reflector; reflectors on spokes and pedals; and reflective tyres. It could save your child's life."
The 'Be Safe, Be Seen' message is being promoted by the DOE and independent retail group, Centra as part of their Cycling Proficiency Scheme campaign.
Centra is including the road-safety message in a brochure being delivered to 450,000 Northern Ireland households this week.
Olivia Johnston, Communications Manager at Musgrave SuperValu-Centra added; "The safety of young people on our roads during the winter months is clearly a priority for all of us. We are glad to support DOE in promoting this important road safety message to help children avoid serious injury while cycling."
The clocks go back an hour on 30 October.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The Cycling Proficiency Scheme is a DOE initiative sponsored by Centra, which operates 82 independently owned convenience stores in Northern Ireland. The retailer provides financial and practical support to the scheme, including making customers aware of the 'Be Safe, Be Seen' campaign on promotional brochures.
For information on the Cycling Proficiency Scheme telephone 028 9054 0540.
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