Published Date:
28 June 2009
MORE than 200 children have taken part in a record brake-ing attempt to raise money for a road safety charity and slow down speeding drivers.
The pupils, from West End Primary School, marched 500 metres around their school grounds in a bid to be part of the world's largest 'walking bus'.
They were among around 100,000 children across the UK to take part. The previous record was 57,476 youngsters.
Their event also made £25 for organisers Brake, a charity which supports families of people killed or injured by road crashes, and raised awareness of the number of fatalities and injuries that happen on roads.
In Yorkshire and the Humber 1,263 children on foot are killed or hurt on roads each year.
Brake also used the event to promote its campaign to get local authorities to tackle child deaths and injuries on our roads by funding 20mph safety zones around every school and residential area.
West End's year 2 teacher, Sarah Brooks, said: "We haven't had the world record confirmed yet but Brake did say that it was definitely going to be broken with the number of pupils and schools on board."
Brake's chief executive Mary Williams OBE, said: "Brake supports parents whose children have been killed by speeding drivers and families whose children have lost limbs, been paralysed, and been permanently and horrendously brain-injured by speeding drivers.
"Through this event we are urging drivers to take time out to think of these children and to make a commitment to always drive at 20mph or lower around schools and communities. You never know when a child might make a mistake and run out. Your slower driving could save their life."
To find out more about the charity or to make a donation, visit www.brake-org.uk or call 01484 559909.
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Last Updated:
26 June 2009 12:36 PM
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Source:
Sth Elmsall Express
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Location:
Wakefield, West Yorkshire