The Routes package has been designed by the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership and Puppet Broadcasting Company. The programme contains 15 modules spread across the five years of secondary school education (Key Stages 3 and 4, years 7-11). Subjects include the full range of safety information that young people will be exposed to, including ‘Signs and Markings’, ’Where's Your Head At’ (Distractions) and ‘Young Drivers’.
The lessons have been designed in conjunction with the DVD to ensure all learning styles are met in the lesson:
- visual
- auditory
- kinaesthetic
The lessons also deliver the PLTS (personal learning and thinking skills) which are:
- independent enquiries
- creative thinkers
- reflective learners
- team workers
- self managers
- effective participators
Routes – The Teenage Highway Code also delivers clearly on the stay safe outcomes of the Government Every Child Matters programme especially:
- safe from accidental injury and death
- safe from crime and anti social behaviour in and out of school
There are three modules per year group as a suggested shape for schools with a second ‘Dip in, Dip Out’ focus for road safety educators concentrating on a particular issue with non-mainstream or youth group settings.
The modules
- Signs and Markings –recognises road signs and markings and explain their purpose
- On the Pavement –identifying the safety risk of the journeys made as pedestrians and to develop skills to reduce risks
- Belt Up – identifying the importance of seatbelts and the consequences of not using them
- On Your Bike – how to be a safe cyclist
- Ticket To Ride – identifying how our behaviour can affect our safety on and around public transport
- Blades and Boards – exploring the dangers associated with roller blades and skateboards and ways to reduce risk
- Where’s Your Head At? – understanding how reducing our sense increases our risk of death or serious injury
- Tikes on Bikes – how the misuse of mini-motos-/quad bikes affects communities, including the likelihood of injury
- TWOC That – identifying the risks and evaluate the consequences of car theft
- Kerbside –identifying anti social behaviour as a pedestrian and evaluate the effects on communities
- Charged – exploring the risks of taking drugs and using a vehicle
- Pedstaz (Moped riders) – how to be safe as a moped or scooter rider and the consequences of unsafe riding
- Young Drivers – analysing how to be a safe driver
- RIP –analysing the consequences of road traffic fatalities
- Getting the Message Across – analysing how effective the road safety message is and devising a campaign to support road safety among young people
A Creative Solution
In order to help the students interact with the messages contained within Routes, the package includes a ‘Getting the Message Across’ module. This module is aimed at pre/learner drivers and encourages them to formulate their own road safety campaign.
The module uses examples of existing road safety campaigns from across the globe to encourage students to analyse what they feel works – and what doesn’t.
By interacting creativity with road safety messages, the students will gain a deeper understanding of the issues that face them on the roads and how their actions could contribute to casualty reduction across Sussex.
Meet the professionals
Professionals from across the road safety spectrum have been actively involved with the design and development of the Routes – The Teenage Highway Code package.
Their involvement has been crucial to ensure the package tackles the issues that young people face on the roads every day.
The professionals interviewed for the Routes package come from the constituent partners of the SSRP, including Sussex Police, East and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Services, Brighton & Hove City Council, East and West Sussex County Councils and the Ambulance Service.
By recounting their experience of dealing with young people who have been injured on the roads of Sussex, they add a real-world perspective to the teaching tool which allows the students to relate more to the subject matter.
Trialling Routes – The Teenage Highway Code
Routes has been evaluated and supported by pilot schools across Sussex, including:
- The Forest School, Horsham
- Thomas Bennett Community College, Crawley
- Downlands Community School, Hassocks
- Felpham Community College
- Worthing High School
- Hove Park School
- Filsham Valley School, St Leonards
- Willingdon Community School
The ROUTES Package is free for use in schools and colleges across Sussex. In order to access the resources, you'll need to log in by clicking on the banner below. Once logged in, return to the Safer For Young People menu (on the left hand side) and you'll see a link called Download ROUTES Resources. This will take you to an area where you can download lesson plans, videos etc.
If you're a Sussex teacher and haven't had your username/password yet, please contact us This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we'll be delighted to issue you one.
