Michelin invests in cycle helmet initiative

Staffordshire County Council has teamed up with Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Michelin Tyre Plc as part of the road safety initiative. Between them they have been handing out 10,000 cycle helmets – 7,000 to young people in Staffordshire and 3,000 to children in Stoke-on-Trent.

In addition 80 bikes have also been given away and pupils have been taking part in classroom based sessions and cycling activities to boost their confidence when they are out and about. Michelin is funding after a grant from the European Commission’s Road Safety for Young People in Europe.

Corinne Li, Michelin project leader, said: “As a major local employer we are keen to get involved with different activities across the county and with our core business being related to transport, road safety is a natural choice. We hope that the helmets and bikes will have a big impact on youngsters’ behaviour whilst riding on the county’s roads and will result in a positive change in their attitude to road safety and lead to a reduction in accidents.”

Staffordshire already has one of the best records for child road safety in the UK.

County Councillor Mike Maryon, Cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said: “We have an excellent road safety record and are among the best performing counties in the UK. However, we are always looking at ways to reduce casualties even further and innovative partnership projects like this one with Michelin are a great way to achieve that aim.

Legally enforceable 20mph limits were also activated outside eight Staffordshire schools in March in a drive to put the brakes on speeding motorists. Eight Tamworth schools on main roads are piloting the special part time 20mph zones – some of the first in England to get approval. The county council gained special authorisation from Government to allow the restrictions on A and B roads. Only 10 other sites in England have permission to operate the safety scheme.

The road safety team also carried out cycle training with more than 7,500 children in 2010 – making it the biggest provider in England (outside London).

Related news:

• “Pink Ribbon” Tyres: Radar’s Mobilizing Hope launches in UK

• Pirelli raises £6,386 for Children’s Hospital

• Ling Long sponsors BEN Lynwood ‘Henley Regatta’ event