Helmet safety scheme rolled-out

A road safety initiative, which sees police officers rewarding children for wearing cycling helmets, is set to be rolled-out across Lancashire.

The scheme involves officers speaking to youngsters about the importance of wearing a helmet and giving out special activity packs to those who follow road safety advice. Insp Alison Barff-Lewis said: "Wearing a cycling helmet can help to prevent injuries and can even save a life. This initiative is about encouraging children to wear a helmet and helping them to stay safe on our roads. We first piloted this scheme in November last year and children were very responsive to it. We have therefore decided to roll the scheme out across the county and hopefully get the important message out to youngsters that they should always wear a helmet when riding their bike."

The packs, which contain a certificate, a bookmark, a toy and a competition entry slip, have been supplied by the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust. Angela Lee, Chief Executive of the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust, said: "We are delighted that the Force is participating with this initiative." The Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust is an award-winning child cyclist's safety charity.

The Trust was founded in 1998 by a paediatric nurse who through her work saw the devastation that head injury can cause not only to the child but also to the whole family.