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On the web with the Streetwise Guys
12/02/2002
An internet site with vital road safety messages for children and young people was launched today.
Streetwise Guys, a website that uses rap music and interactive games, to encourage young people to learn about road safety was endorsed by Deputy Transport Minister Lewis Macdonald during a visit to Gracemount High School in Edinburgh.
The site aims to educate children about the risks associated with being a road user and is particularly targeted at the vulnerable period when children are moving up to secondary school.
Since the early 1980s, the number of child pedestrians killed or seriously injured has more than halved but the Scottish death rate is still considerably higher than in England. Poorer children, and those making the move from primary school to secondary school, have been identified as most at risk.
Gracemount rappers give a flavour of the website's content.
Mr Macdonald said:
"Streetwise Guys has been designed to be used independently by young people - it is interesting, informative and importantly fun to use. Although it is aimed primarily at eight to fourteen-year old children it can also appeal to a much wider age range.
"Streetwise Guys and the road safety training projects I announced last month will work towards ensuring that Scottish children - wherever they come from - stay safe on the roads.
"Road safety education is vital to reduce the number of children and young people who die on Scotland's roads each year and this is a key priority for the Scottish Executive. I am committed to halving the number of child road deaths and serious injuries by 2010."
Deputy Minister for Education and Young People Nicol Stephen, said:
"This new site encourages children to learn important road safety messages in a fun way whilst also developing important information technology skills. This site will help children gain skills and stay safe on Scotland's roads."
Pupils from Gracemount High School were involved in setting up the website and the school's music department composed music to accompany the winning rap in a competition for primary schools throughout Scotland. The winners were pupils from Longstone Primary (below with Mr Macdonald), and the runners up Nether Currie Primary.
By 2000 deaths of child pedestrians were 71% lower than the average for 1981-85. However the fatality rate for child pedestrians in Scotland is substantially higher than in England. In 2000, 1485 child pedestrians were injured on Scotland's roads and 379 child pedestrians were killed or seriously injured.
A focus group of six young people was set up to ensure that the Streetwise Guys website meets the needs of the target age group and they looked at both educational road safety messages and visual imagery.