WATCH: Don't be silly on our roads, warn youngsters

Northumbria Police has teamed up with a class of 10-year-olds from Northumberland to issue one simple message to motorists this summer - Don't Be Silly on our roads.
News from Northumbria PoliceNews from Northumbria Police
News from Northumbria Police

Children from Shaftoe Trust Primary School, in Haydon Bridge, have joined the Op Dragoon team to create a video teaching adults about the importance of road safety. It has been released today as schools across the North East break up for the holidays and it encourages drivers to keep their eye out for children playing on the roadside.

Some of the lessons included in the video focus on drink-driving, speeding, being extra vigilant on country roads and making sure the public are aware of the law when driving abroad. Each time a youngster gives a piece of advice in the video they say the words, Don't Be Silly, in a bid to encourage motorists to be sensible when they get behind the wheel this summer.

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The idea for the video came from the children themselves during a recent input at the school by both the Op Dragoon team and road-safety campaigner Becky Frankel MBE.

Northumbria Police Deputy Chief Constable Winton Keenen has now praised the children’s' creativity and said it is important motorists take note of their safety message.

He said: "Summer is a great time for families to enjoy the great outdoors and today thousands of children will be celebrating another school year coming to an end. The North East is a fantastic place to live, work and visit and policing this region is something that fills members of Northumbria Police with great pride.

"The kids at Shaftoe Trust Primary School and the enthusiasm they have shown for this campaign has given us even more reason to be proud of our local communities. Everyone understands how dangerous our roads can be but when we get behind the wheel a lot of people have an attitude of 'it won't happen to me'.

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"That kind of thinking is what leads to fatal collisions and we hope that the message from the kids at Shaftoe resonates with motorists from across the region. It is a simple message, but it is one we should all try to remember - don't be silly when you get behind the wheel this summer."

Lee Buckingham, group manager at Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, said: "It's great to see young people getting involved in helping the emergency services to spread important road-safety messages. Hopefully drivers will remember the Don't Be Silly campaign when they’re out and about this summer, when we typically see a spate in the number of accidents happening on our roads and remember to drive responsibly."

Northumbria Police have been running Operation Dragoon - in partnership with the North East Ambulance Service, Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service and Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service - since summer 2014 and has had a huge impact on making the region's roads a safer place. They have secured hundreds of convictions after targeting dangerous drivers in the North East by gathering intelligence from our local communities.

If you suspect anyone of breaking the law or driving dangerously then contact the team by calling 101. Follow the @OpDragoon Twitter feed and the #DontBeSilly hashtag for further updates on the campaign.