Primary school pupils are helping their peers stay road savvy by becoming Junior Road Safety Officers (JRSO).

The Junior Road Safety Officer (JRSO) scheme is a national road safety education project aimed at primary schools which encourages peer to peer education.

The scheme, co-ordinated in County Durham by Durham County Council’s road safety team, help schools to recruit pupils as JRSOs and teach them valuable road safety messages. JRSOs pass on safety tips to fellow students by speaking in assemblies, running competitions and campaigns, and updating colourful noticeboards.

The road safety representatives also work with the council’s team to deliver projects as part of the Slow to 20 for Safer Streets project.

The fifth year of the scheme was celebrated by 12 primary schools in County Durham, welcomed by Chairman Cllr Kate Corrigan and organised by Durham County Council’s road safety team, during a special event at County Hall.

Schools included: Cockton Hill Junior School; Copeland Road Primary School, West Auckland; St Anne’s CE Primary School, Bishop Auckland; St Wilfrid’s RCVA Primary School, Bishop Auckland; Wheatley Hill Primary School; Delves Lane Primary School; Edmondsley Primary school; Nettlesworth Primary School; Timothy Hackworth Primary School, Shildon; Shotley Bridge Primary School; Ebchester Primary School; and Burnside Primary School, Stanley.

Local author, Adam Bushnell, introduced some imagination to the day, teaching the young people how to create Shakespearian sonnets and rapping in rhythm to iambic pentameter, to deliver messages including the importance of wearing a seat belt, pedestrian safety and cycle safety.

Cllr Katie Corrigan, said: “The children came up with some incredibly creative and informative sonnets, all of which included super sensible safety information. They clearly feel a positive sense of responsibility and are taking action towards their peers to relay important life lessons.

“We were thrilled to award older pupils with JRSO certificates to thank them for their good work and working with our teams to keep young people safe.”

Find out more about our road safety schemes, by visiting http://www.durham.gov.uk/schoolroadsafetyschemes

Watch JRSO sonnets performed by pupils on the Durham County Council YouTube channel, https://youtu.be/G5fTaOFvlkg