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Don't be a dummy about road safety

Thousands of Surrey schoolchildren are being told ‘Don’t Be a Dummy’ when it comes to road safety as CragRats tour schools in January and early February. Surrey County Council are working with us to deliver key road safety messages to vulnerable Year 7 pupils, aged 11 and 12. 

There was a concern at the council about an increase in pedestrian casualties associated with the move from primary to secondary school when children begin travelling further and independently for the first time.

CragRats identified that although many students initially pay attention on their journey, as they get used to it and they become easily distracted.  This is down to a number of issues such as: messing about with friends, texting or listening to music through earphones.

We devised a programme that engages with pupils using traditional theatre mask work and Greek Chorus, both of which form part of the national curriculum for this year group.

The overall aim is to reduce the number and severity of pedestrian casualties in the age group across Surrey.

CragRats Theatre in Education expert Lindsay Richards said: “CragRats gets results by using innovative techniques to engage with young people.  We help them to see the dangers associated with roads and empower them to take responsibility for their own safety.  This particular programme has already proved a huge success elsewhere in the country; we hope we can achieve the same success in Surrey and help cut child pedestrian casualties here too.”

The first school will be visited on the 14th of January and the tour continues until the 15th of February. CragRats will visit 48 schools playing to thousands of pupils over 29 days.

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