Hills help deliver Cycle Safe message

Company holds bespoke educational event for local school children in support of MPA national campaign

HILLS Quarry Products held a bespoke educational event last month for 130 local school children in support of the Mineral Products Association’s national Cycle Safe campaign.

Delivered in fun, interactive sessions and aimed specifically at children aged between 8 and 15 years old, the event highlighted the potentially dangerous zones for cyclists around heavy goods vehicles and provided general road safety awareness education too.

Each session began with a ‘See and Be Seen’ presentation from Volvo Trucks, which raised awareness about visibility in traffic. The ‘See and Be Seen’ campaign spotlights situations where cyclists and other road users are involved and how to improve safety in the interaction between cyclists and truck drivers.

The children then moved into a large hall where HGVs were set up with life size cut-outs of cyclists placed around them. The children were invited to get into the driver’s seat and mark on a diagram which of these cyclists could be seen, helping them to understand the ‘blind spot’ areas around a lorry.

Practical demonstrations were also provided by Wiltshire Council’s road safety officer, who gave advice on cycle helmets and bicycle maintenance alongside Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Services, who supported the cycle safety messages from the emergency services’ perspective.

Peter Andrew, group director at Hills Quarry Products, said: ‘Cycling continues to grow in popularity and it is important that vulnerable road users are protected when they cycle near our lorries.

‘The feedback we have had from both the children and the schools following the event has been very encouraging, and they particularly appreciated the opportunity see things from a driver’s perspective. We will definitely look to hold more of these events in the future.’