Be Bright, Be Seen this autumn

With darker mornings and evenings now upon us, the council is reminding people of the simple but sensible actions they can take to keep themselves and their families safe when out and about.

Dark days combined with foggy and misty weather all have an impact on visibility. To stay safe when walking, cycling or scooting to school, parents and carers are reminded about the importance of fluorescent and reflective materials on clothing. Fluorescent fabrics work well during daylight and the hours of dusk but won’t show up in the dark so it’s important to also look for reflective fabrics and consider adding reflective tape to bags and clothes to ensure you can be seen in the dark by car headlights.

Anyone cycling during winter months should ensure bike lights are clean and in good working order. It is important to remember, it is against the law to cycle at night without a white front light, a red back light and a red reflector at the back of your bike.

Buckinghamshire Council works closely with schools across the county to promote travel safety and develop their own School Travel Plan (STP). The main aim of a School Travel Plan is to reduce single occupancy car use on school journeys. Increasing sustainable travel helps to reduce congestion and pollution, as well as improving the health and fitness of children and young people and helps to give children the very important life skills they need to stay safe and healthy on their journey to and from school.

Steven Broadbent, Cabinet Member for Transport said: “Winter months mean fewer daylight hours but people still need to go about their business and so it makes sense to do what you can to stay safe when out and about. Just a few simple changes can make all the difference, not just for children going to and from school but for everyone.”

View more information on School Travel Plans.

There is more information online to remind children and young people about the importance of wearing bright clothing when out and about including the Be bright be seen game – THINK!

For more information visit Why be Bright? - Brightkidz

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