The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.
The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.
1240/5(3087)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, SPORT AND CULTURE BY DEPUTY S. PITMAN OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY, 7th NOVEMBER 2006
Question
Would the Minister inform Members what education (both formal and informal), if any, is currently given to young people about road safety issues (i.e. speeding, drinking and mobile phone use) and state how much time is given to this subject by each school and youth centre?
Answer
Schools and Colleges
The Department currently supports this in many ways through the teaching of PSHE. In particular, it supports the work of the Road Safety Officer in all of our schools, who offers the following initiatives:
- The Department financially supports the roadshow "Too Much Punch for Judy", which is presented to all Year 11 students and focuses on drink and drug driving. This is followed up by a one hour session with the Road Safety Officer and follow-up work.
- All Year 8 students are given a 35 minute input on seat belt wearing via the programme "Prison me no way".
- 3 schools participate in "On two wheels" which is aimed at students thinking of moped riding at the age of 16. This course lasts several weeks and covers all areas of road safety.
- A course on motorway driving for sixth formers going to university and thinking of driving whilst there.
- 50 minute drink/drug driving input to sixth formers who are driving.
1-3 hour lesson for Year 11 and upwards on hazard perception, which includes the issue of speed.
- 50 minute lesson on use of mobile phone whilst driving.
- 50 minute lesson on risk assessment.
- 50 minute lesson on pedestrian safety, plus occasional assembly work and 15 minute lesson for Years 7 and 8.
- 20 minute lesson for Year 7 students on the wearing of cycle helmets.
- 8 hour road cycle training courses for 10-15 year olds, plus proficiency courses for Year 6 students. The Youth Service
Firstly, the Youth Service target age range is 12 – 18 years so many of the young people we work with are not old enough to be driving. However, the Service does provide informal education on issues impacting on young people's lives through various youth work programmes including the following which link to road safety –
Raising awareness of alcohol and drug misuse; working in partnership with Health Promotion and Drug and Alcohol Services; using posters, leaflets, discussions; role play; collage, etc.
The Street Based Youth Work Team have a specific role to play in engaging young people on the streets of St Helier and talking to them about issues around drugs and alcohol, helping them to make informed choices.
Outreach workers have engaged with young people in the St. Brelade 's Bay and other areas where they congregate in large groups, especially on such occasions as the end of term. This is a time when young people celebrate' and can involve them drinking to excess and put them at risk of road accidents etc.
The Mobile Youth Project has been used to go out with detached or outreach workers to support Street Based Youth Work and is useful as a focal point for young people to go to if they have a problem. Again this project has information posters and leaflets on the subject which try to educate young people about the risks of alcohol and drugs.
The On 2 Wheels project is possibly the most significant project which the Youth Service is involved with which has a direct impact on young people and road safety. This is an accredited training programme which targets 16 / 17 year olds who want to learn to ride a motor cycle. It has been run in schools, in La Moye YOI and as part of a summer activity programme. It has support from the Police, the Fire Service, Road Safety and other organisations.