Thursday 11:11
A colourful storybook aimed at saving young children's lives used by North West Road Safety Officers has achieved national success.
'Teddy Takes a Tumble' outlines the danger of young children not wearing car seat belts. The book tells the heart warming of story of little Billy who didn't strap his teddy bear in when out in the car.
When his mother brakes sharply the cuddly teddy bear flies through the air smashing into the windscreen.
Originally only intended to be used by road safety officers across the North West, they were soon inundated with requests for copies of the book from colleagues throughout the country.
In the wake of this success a board game has been produced as part of a 'story sack' and is being launched at the London Education Show.
The 'Teddy Takes a Tumble' 'story sack' aims to encourage parents to teach children the importance of wearing a seat belt. The 'story sack' not only includes the book, but visual aides including a toy teddy, miniature child's car seat and belt, board game and other props.
The storybook was devised by students at Skelmersdale and Ormskirk College taking a Diploma in Child Care and Education and adopted by LARSOA North West (Local Authority Road Safety Officers' Association.
The book was launched at a conference at Chorley Hospital becoming an overnight road safety success earning the group a commendation in the prestigious Prince Michael Road Safety Awards.
Road Safety Officer Julie Windeler said:
"One in 10 children under 13 are still unrestrained in the back seat of cars despite the fact that research shows that it takes less than a fifth of a second for an unrestrained child to fly through the windscreen and die in a crash.
"Teddy Takes a tumble has been very successful in helping us get the message across. Teddy started his journey in the North West but now news of his adventures has travelled across the country.
"He has captured the imagination of children everywhere and there is no doubt that the campaign is helping to save lives. We are quite overwhelmed by the success having printed over 70,000 copies of the book and a teddy bear and board game being available as part of the 'story sack'."
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Electronic photographic extracts from the book are available on request
2. LARSOA North West covers: Cumbria CC, Lancashire CC, Cheshire CC, Blackpool BC, Blackburn with Darwen BC, Warrington BC, Halton BC, Isle, of Man Government, Bolton MBC, Bury MBC, Manchester CC, Rochdale MBC, Salford CC, Stockport MBC, Tameside MBC, Trafford MBC, Wigan MBC, Liverpool CC, Wirral MBC, Sefton MBC, St Helens MBC and Knowsley MBC
3. Interviews on the success of the 'Teddy takes a tumble' seat belt campaign are available on request.
For further information:Clive Naish, Regional Information Officer Tel: 0161 092 4517
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT NEWS NETWORK NORTH WEST
Department for Transport Great Minster House 76 Marsham Street London SW1P 4DR
