Press release

Children set example for danger drivers in safer roadworks competition

Children in Lancashire have been praised for setting an example to drivers and focusing on the safety of road workers delivering high-profile junction improvements south of Fleetwood.

Image showing person pointing at one of the childrens posters

Dozens of Highways England staff ran the rule over the entries to vote for their favourites

Highways England is improving Norcross roundabout along the A585 in Lancashire. It had already enlisted ten local primary schools to design the safety signs before a spate of driving-through-roadworks incidents at the site. Similar incidents had also occurred at another congestion relief project at junction 3 of the M55.

皇冠体育app winners of the poster competition have now been unveiled with Stanah and Sacred Heart primary schools, both in Thornton-Cleveleys, scooping the two prizes 鈥� a chance to visit the site and see full-size versions of their signs on display next week.

More than 200 Highways England staff 鈥� many of them roadworkers 鈥� from across the North West voted for their favourite designs. 皇冠体育appre were two themes in the competition with Stanah winning the 鈥楶lease drive safely鈥� competition and Sacred Heart the other with its 鈥楾hank you for driving safely鈥� design.

All ten of the schools taking part in the competition have been rewarded with vouchers, construction-themed goody bags for the children and have also taken delivery of full-size versions of their entries. 皇冠体育app competition was sponsored by construction firm Carnell which is the lead contractor on the Norcross roundabout project.

Highways England senior project manager Steve Mason said:

It鈥檚 fair to say we got a brilliant response from children at every one of the ten schools involved and who would win the competition was anyone鈥檚 guess as the entries were all fantastic.

皇冠体育app competition was very timely as we did have issues at the beginning of the project with a small minority of drivers cutting through roadworks and jumping temporary traffic lights with little regard for their own or our road workers鈥� safety.

Highways England鈥檚 Lucy Gurney, who organised the competition in partnership with Carnell, said:

皇冠体育app competition was designed to help promote safer driving generally but especially around road workers. Getting local school children involved enabled the message to be taken home to families and friends 鈥� some of the schools set the competition as homework 鈥� and helps encourage a generation of future drivers to think 鈥榮afety first鈥�.

皇冠体育app competition was linked to the schools鈥� Key Stage 2 curriculum work.

Hamish Clough, head teacher of Stanah, said:

We are delighted that one of our pupils has won the competition. 皇冠体育app prize money will enable us to buy some new play equipment for our children to use at break times.

A visit to the site is exciting for our children as they will learn how the new road has been planned and constructed. 皇冠体育appy will also have opportunity to discuss the roles and responsibilities of staff on the site. It will help enrich their Summer term topic on our locality and its development.

皇冠体育app Norcross project has had a dedicated safety van on site to record incidents of drivers breaching roadworks. In response to the incidents, Highways England adjusted its construction plans and closed access off the A585 during overnight work.

General enquiries

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Media enquiries

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.

Updates to this page

Published 16 March 2020