December 13, 2011 4.54 pm This story is over 147 months old

Lincoln school safety campaign backed by stars

Road safety: Campaign for safer crossing points outside schools gets celebrity endorsement as it gains momentum.
Photo (L-R): Lincoln City FC player James Wilson practising the green cross code with pupils Jacob Thorne and Rose Eke along with LCFC player Josh O’Keefe

Lincoln road safety campaign, Kids Cross Safely, has attracted the support of Lincoln City Football Club and Hollywood star Craig Bierko.

LCFC players visited St Hugh’s R C School on Woodfield Avenue on Tuesday to show their support for the campaign, which has now turned into a national movement to raise awareness for road safety outside schools.

Imps players James Wilson and Josh O’Keefe took the afternoon off training to meet with the school’s road safety team.

Josh O’Keefe said: “Something needs to be done and hopefully Lincoln City FC can bring some attention to the situation so something does happen.”

Craig Berko plays Doc Dugan in US show The Mentalist and turned down the role as Chandler in hit show Friends.

He began following the work of Kids Cross Safely on Twitter before making a YouTube video (embedded below) to promote the cause.

Founder of Kids Cross Safely, Rosanne Kirk, is delighted with the support the project has gained and wants to see changes in legislation.

Kirk said: “Our website brings people’s stories together and one of the aims is to change the law by putting pressure on the Government via petitions and media coverage.”

Headteacher Gregory Hughes explained how a zebra crossing would be an ideal way to make it safer for children crossing the road.

“Our lollipop lady cannot be present all the time, with a zebra crossing motorists can see beacons and a designated crossing point to slow down for, putting children in the safest place to cross the road,” he said.

Jacob Thorne (11) and Rose Eke (10) are both road safety monitors at St Hugh’s R C School and spread the safety message amongst their peers.

Thorne said: “I wanted the position as road safety monitor as I bike to school and see the dangers of not crossing the road sensibly and want to teach people what is the safest way to cross the road.”

The extra support comes after a child was hit by a car outside the school on December 2, suffering a broken leg.

The national petition has thousands of signatures already and petition forms are available to download online.