Last month Ford & Slater sponsored a road safety project held by our customer, Rainthorpe Transport of Normanton-on-Cliffe, Grantham, Lincolnshire, at their local primary school in Caythorpe.
The visit formed part of the international hauliers’ ‘Stay Safe Be Seen’ project, a campaign aimed at educating students on the limited visibility drivers have when in the cab of a truck.
Rainthorpe began the event with an informative assembly on blind spots and road safety, before allowing students to sit in the cab of one of their New DAF trucks. Children from the school were asked to line up behind the truck, taking small steps backwards until each child was no longer visible to the ‘driver’ – the student sitting in the cab.
Rainthorpe Transport Office Assistant, Deyna Lynn, said, “Acting as driver helps to educate the children on the limitations of a truck driver’s view of the road behind and beside them, even with all the mirrors. It allows students to see for themselves, instead of just hearing it from their parents or teachers.
“As a result, a lot of the students were shocked to find out just how much a lorry driver couldn’t see. It helped to make the dangers of the road much clearer. It is our hope that more companies will begin running the scheme in their own local schools and neighbourhoods.”
As part of our sponsorship for the scheme, Ford & Slater donated fluorescent snap-bands, DAF pens and balloons for goody bags given to each child; we look forward to working with Rainthorpe on their ‘Stay Safe Be Seen’ campaign in the future.
