In a bid to stop tragedies on roads in Scotland, 14,478 children recently marched for road safety as part of the nationwide Record Breaking Buckle My Shoe Walking Bus organised by Brake, the road safety charity with the support of children’s shoe company Buckle My Shoe.

The Walking Bus initiative is at the heart of Brake’s Watch Out, There’s a Kid About! campaign, which is calling for the Government to reduce the urban default 30mph limit to 20mph, and to introduce more safe crossing places such as Pelican Crossings around schools. Hit at 20mph, children have a survival chance of 95% compared with 10% at 40mph. Brake is calling for drivers to voluntarily drop their speed to 20mph around schools and on residential roads and remember that there could be a child around every corner or parked car.

At St Ninian’s Primary School in Knightswood, participating in Brake’s Walking Bus initiative reinforced the lessons pupils learn through the school’s road safety campaigns, including poster competitions, safety walks and talks organised by Glasgow City Council. Senior pupils have also been completing cycling proficiency for the past 8-10 weeks.

St Ninian’s is located on Great Western Road. The road has two crash blackspots, although they are not right next to the school. Two children have been hurt on the road in the past three years. Glasgow City Council has introduced a ‘20 is plenty’ scheme but the school has requested further action, due to concerns that drivers are still driving too fast. Teachers and parents want more school crossing patrols outside the school and a speed camera on the school side of the road (there is already one on the opposite carriageway).
Parents have also voiced concerns that buses from a First Glasgow bus terminus, which is located next to the school, often park on the zig-zag lines outside the school gates. The St Ninian’s Parent Council has spoken to First Bus and has also asked its local councillor to communicate their concerns.

Mary Mclachlan, Headteacher at St Ninian’s Primary School, said: “St Ninian’s has worked tirelessly this session to promote road safety. Pupils are warned of the dangers faced due to the school’s location on one of the busiest roads in Glasgow. We have asked for all parents’ cooperation in leaving zig-zag lines clear when visiting the school, and the school’s monthly newsletter reinforces this message.”