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Kerbcraft

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The Department for Transport Road Safety Division appointed us to set up and manage a five year National Pilot Network of Child Pedestrian Training Schemes. The project, a key element in the Government's Road Safety Strategy, 'Tomorrow's Roads: Safer for Everyone' supports selected local authorities in providing local training schemes, with priority being given to children in more deprived areas and those with higher accident rates. The overall aim of the Pilot Network is to demonstrate how effective child pedestrian training schemes may be established and sustained in the longer term.

A total of 115 schemes were launched throughout England and Scotland each year from 2002 to 2004 in a rolling programme. Each scheme will be funded by the Department for Transport or Scottish Executive as part of the pilot study for a period of three years, with the funding ending for the final schemes in March 2007. Many schemes have, however, found funding to continue with Kerbcraft training beyond the pilot.

The child pedestrian training uses the Kerbcraft model developed by Strathclyde University in the light of the successful project at Drumchapel in Glasgow. It is designed to teach pedestrian training skills to 5 to 7 year olds by means of practical road-side training rather than in the classroom. It is built around teaching three skills:- choosing safe places and routes; crossing safely at parked cars and crossing safely near junctions. Children are taught by trained volunteers near their schools.

We also maintain the Kerbcraft website, which is primarily for use by Kerbcraft Co-ordinators, appointed within each of the selected authorities, who are implementing the pedestrian training in a number of schools in their Local Authority area.

www.kerbcraft.org.uk