Ramsey: Bike bid to cut road deaths (From Gazette)

Ramsey: Bike bid to cut road deaths

9:48am Thursday 26th July 2007 in News By Jonathan Schofield

A firefighter has relaunched a campaign to cut the number of children being killed and injured on the roads.

Kieran Warner, a firefighter of Ramsey, was appalled by the shocking increase of children dying while out cycling.

He has responded by putting youngsters through the cycling proficiency test.

The father of two said: "I was horrified when I saw how many children were being killed on the road.

"Deaths have risen by 20 per cent, from 141 children in 2005 to 169 last year, and the most vulnerable are young cyclists."

He said that the latest Government statistics showed a 55 per cent increase in the amount of children killed on their bikes.

Mr Warner contacted Two Village Primary School, who were only too happy to be the first school to launch the scheme.

"The cycling proficiency test seemed to be a right-of-passage for kids years ago, but sadly it has been phased out.

"I'm sure this is connected to the number of deaths and injuries, so it made sense to start it up again," he said.

Six children from year six took the eight-week course, teaching them everything from bike maintenance to safe riding on the road.

Mr Warner said: "They all got a certificate and I'm sure this will prepare them for being on the road.

"I just hope this will be the start of a campaign that will spread to all schools."

Pat Blackwell, headteacher at the school, said she was passionate about safe cycling for children.

"We encourage our children to cycle to school as part of a healthy lifestyle, so we welcome any schemes that will make them safer on the roads," she said.