Brighten Your Bag competition inspires creativity and safety

The Isle of Wight Council is excited to announce the winners of the 2024 Brighten Your Bag competition, a creative initiative aimed at promoting road safety within primary schools and their communities.

The activity encourages pupils to design and decorate their school bags with high-visibility materials and/or colours, making them more visible to other road users during the darker winter months.

Why visibility matters

Visibility is crucial for safety, especially during the winter when daylight is limited. Being visible to drivers can significantly reduce the risk of collisions.

Reflective and fluorescent materials and clothing help ensure children are seen by motorists, cyclists, and other pedestrians. This is particularly important when children are walking, scooting, or cycling to school.

Being seen isn’t just for the kids going to and from school — visibility is important for all road road users, particularly those that are classed as ‘Vulnerable Road Users’ (VRUs). VRUs include pedestrians (particularly children and the elderly), cyclists, disabled people, horse riders and motorcyclists.

About the competition

The competition was open to primary schools across the Isle of Wight taking part in the council’s Junior Travel Ambassador (JTA) scheme.

This year, there were two categories for the competition:

•    Key Stage 1: Pupils were provided with a bag template to create bright and colourful designs.

•    Key Stage 2: Pupils were asked to decorate physical bags with reflective and fluorescent materials.

Southern Vectis sponsored the competition, offering a family ticket to their popular Christmas lights tour for the KS2 winner.

Participants were invited to use reflective materials, bright colours, and innovative designs to ensure their bags stood out. The goal was to make the bag as bright as possible, combining creativity with safety.

This year’s winner are:

•    Key Stage 2 - Will Upton, Nettlestone Primary. Will won a scooter, a reflective drawstring bag and a family ticket for five to the Southern Vectis Christmas lights tour.

•    Key Stage 1 – Freddie Bane, St Mary’s Primary. Freddie won a scooter and a reflective drawstring bag.

Runners-up were given a reflective drawstring bag each.

Councillor Karen Lucioni, Cabinet member for community protection, said, "We are thrilled to see the enthusiasm from our young residents.

"The Brighten Your Bag competition not only fosters creativity but also raises awareness about the importance of being visible on the roads. It's a fun and engaging way to promote road safety.

“Thank you to all those who took part, and we hope even more schools get involved near year! Always remember to Be Safe, Be Seen”

What are Junior Travel Ambassadors?

JTAs are pupils recruited from Key Stage 2 within primary schools to lead on an annual programme of road safety and active travel themed education, activities, and competitions.

Schools participating in the JTA scheme are also taking part in the Modeshift STARS scheme, working towards making the school run safer and more sustainable for all.

To find out more or get your school signed up, please visit the JTA webpage on the Isle of Wight Council Website or contact roadsafety@iow.gov.uk