Children drive safety message

Youngsters at Helping Hands Kippa-Ring are using their artistic skills to help Moreton police during Road Safety Week (August 24-28).

Students at the outside school hours care service in Edmund St have made their own signs to raise awareness of the dangers on nearby roads.

Helping Hands Kippa-Ring co-ordinator Rachel Scott says their project follows reports of dangerous driving on streets near their centre.

Driving safety message

“Helping Hands Kippa-Ring have used Road Safety Week to teach the children about road safety,” says Rachel.

“The service wants to reach out to the community and remind them of the importance of being safe on the roads especially through school zones where there are children about.

“The children got busy making signs with messages about road safety and were very proud to have them displayed at the front of their service for everyone to see.”

The stance taken by students in Kippa-Ring has been backed by Officer-in-Charge of Landsborough Road Policing Unit Senior Sergeant Mal Lilley.

“Hooning might seem like fun to you at the time but can easily end in tragedy, it’s just not worth it,” Sen Sgt Lilley says.

“If you drive in accordance with the road rules you are so much more likely to arrive at your destination safely.”

Major problem

Sen Sgt Garth Peak, OIC Road Policing Unit adds: “Hooning remains an ongoing problem. Some drivers appear unable to grasp the concept that their actions can have catastrophic effects, not only on themselves, but on many others”.

Sergeant Sarah Grayson, Officer-in-Charge of Moreton Police District Crime Prevention Unit, is also encouraging the community to help.

Sgt Grayson says anyone witnessing or hearing of hooning is urged to report it by phoning the Hoon Hotline 13HOON or Policelink 131444.

Road Safety Week was launched in this region on Monday with Moreton Police urging motorists to “think hard” about their driving as the current levels are “simply unacceptable”.

The warning comes from Moreton Police District Superintendent John Hallam following 11 fatalities on our roads in July and August – 50 per cent higher than the previous 12 months.

“Road safety isn’t just a police problem, it is a whole of community problem to make sure people can go where they want and come home safely,” Supt Hallam says.

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