Bradford Council is encouraging children to be safe and be seen when the clocks go back this weekend.

British summer time officially ends on Sunday and the Council’s road safety unit is reminding cyclists and pedestrians of the best ways to be seen when it gets darker earlier in the evening.

The team has sent all Bradford’s schools a ‘Be Bright Be Seen’ campaign pack, highlighting the need to wear fluorescent and reflective clothing, sashes or strips on walks and rides to or from school.

Sue Snoddy, casualty reduction and road safety partnership manager for the Council, said while children are vulnerable road users all year round, the campaign is aimed at raising awareness of the specific dangers of this time of year.

“Failing to look properly is a big contributing factor to accidents involving drivers and pedestrians, and that risk is heightened by darker mornings and evenings,” she said.

“Parents need to talk to children about the dangers and set a good example, by using the green cross code and only using safe places to cross the road.”

Councillor Val Slater, the Council’s Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Transport, said: “It is really important that pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists ensure they are seen and take extra care on the road. Drivers should also watch their speeds and be aware that they are less likely to see vulnerable road users in the dark.”

Marshfield Primary School, in Thornton Lane, is one of many schools that have used the ‘Be Bright Be Seen’ materials to run road safety activities for its pupils.

Linda Disney, Director of Service Development, said the school had delivered a road safety-themed assembly and organised a poster competition.

“There have been four fatalities in the last five years on roads near the school, so raising awareness on this issue is vitally important.” she said. “As well as the Be Safe Be Seen campaign, we have had members of the school council giving out mock fixed penalty notices to parents if they don’t park safely in and around the school.

“It has really worked well to get the safety message across.”

For information on the campaign, contact Sue Snoddy on (01274) 434642.