Youngsters stop speeding motorists outside Knuzden school (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Youngsters stop speeding motorists outside Knuzden school

5:13pm Monday 9th February 2009 in

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CHILDREN told speeding motorists to stop and think before putting their foot down when driving.

Yesterday Year Six pupils from St Oswald’s CofE Primary School, Knuzden, had a go at catching motorists speeding towards Blackburn using the police’s official speed gun.

They stopped and warned six motorists who were speeding along Mount St James with the help of PC Derek Brownless from the Road Policing Unit.

One of the vehicles stopped was a silver Vauxhall which was seized as it was being driven without insurance.

The operation was part of a day long initiative to improve road safety in Hyndburn.

Hyndburn neighbourhood policing teams had targeted drivers using a bus lane and those driving while using mobile phones.

Motorists not wearing a seat belt were also stopped.

Pupils at the school took turns to use the speed gun and then quiz the drivers who were pulled over.

Many drivers apologised and agreed to take more care.

Kimberley Ashurst, 11, said: “It is good for us because we can learn not to speed.

“It is fun because we are learning about road safety.

“I hope it stops them and slows them down.”

Jordan Baldwin, 10, said: “It is a great experience to learn about why people are speeding.

"If they are speeding they could hit a child. This might help us feel safe.”

Mia McNulty, 11, added: “It is wrong when they are speeding.”

PCSO Tracey McCarney, who spoke to the children about road safety with PCSO Iain McCarroll, said: “I think the children will learn about speed limits especially outside schools and both themselves and the drivers who were stopped will learn something from the exercise.

"It’s a great opportunity for them.”

Sgt Graham Brownsmith added: “It is for their education.

"It gets the children involved and by getting them to speak to the drivers it makes the drivers think.

"We hope the road safety message will be passed on to their parents and then to the rest of the family.”