Island pupils receive lesson in road safety that could save lives

The innovative Riot Act theatre-in-education performance group returned to the Isle of Wight last week to bring their unique and personal take on road safety and awareness to hundreds of Island students.

Over the course of the hour long performance pupils were taken on an immersive and interactive journey encouraging them to reflect on their own decisions and behaviours, while also investing in compelling and engaging storytelling.

Statistics show 30 per cent of Island pedestrian casualties in the past five years have been aged 19 years and under.

For collisions involving pedestrians the leading contributory factor is ‘failed to look properly (pedestrian)’, which could be a result of being distracted by the roadside, such as using a mobile phone.

The performance and workshops focused on distractions, peer pressure and the consequences of road traffic collisions within local communities.

The theatre company performed in front of more than 1,500 pupils across nine Island schools as part of their Isle of Wight tour organised by the Isle of Wight Council.

Lewis Campbell, the council's road safety officer, said: "The students were captivated by the cast in relatable roles and really engaged with the concept of risk taking, personal responsibility and being a positive peer influence.

"Adults were very engaging and the discussion afterwards was hopeful to break down what the students had seen, and the importance of safety."

Students are surveyed before and after the sessions to help evaluate the intervention, measuring attitudes towards road safety and willingness to engage in safer behaviours.

Following the intervention:

• an additional 17 per cent of students 'strongly agreed' with the statement: I think road safety education is interesting and worthwhile;
• an additional 13 per cent of students 'strongly agreed' with the statement: I am willing to pause anything I’m listening to on headphones, such as music or podcasts, when crossing the road.

Pupil feedback has been very positive with some commenting:

"I am also now more confident to tell my friends to cross the road at the right time, tell them to stop their phone and music and I have also learnt a key lesson to always pay attention to my surroundings, even when I'm with a big group of friends."

"I think it was a good way to show kids/children the consequences of what happens when mucking about near roads and to be patient and careful around roads."

"I learnt what to do when I am peer pressured and the consequences of not looking where I am. I liked the way it describes that friends can be distracting and the way mobile phones can easily distract us and get us hurt."