Cats' eyes for kids

As the clocks go back each October, millions of school children makes journeys to and from school in much darker conditions. Nationwide has distributed over 12 million reflectors throughout the United Kingdom. Because we feel so strongly about road safety, we have now pledged to give every new intake* child a reflector until 2010.

We have welcomed the recent news that there has been a significant fall in the casualty rate amongst child pedestrians. The recent government announcement revealed a 51% reduction (compared to the 1994-98 baseline average) in child pedestrians killed or seriously injured since 2001. For information on the government announcement on road casualties, please visit www.dft.gov.uk.

By wearing a reflector, a child pedestrian can be visible at 150 metres with low beam headlights compared to only 30 metres without one.

Proof already exists that this scheme could have a dramatic effect on UK child road casualty statistics. Reflectors like this have been keeping children in Nordic countries safer for over 30 years, according to research, eight times safer (source: Central Organisation for Traffic Safety in Finland).

Whilst wearing a reflector is no substitute for good road sense, we know that Cats' Eyes for Kids has already saved children's lives in the UK. Nationwide's commitment to child road safety had been recognised by the presentation of a Prince Michael International Road Safety Award.

On this website we have produced some curriculum-linked road safety worksheets for KS1 and KS2 children which you can download, together with links to other useful road safety websites.

Worksheet 1 Worksheet 2 Worksheet 3 Worksheet 4

To view the worksheets you will need Adobe Reader, click the image to download the software.

If your school has not received any reflectors or you would like to purchase additional reflectors, please contact Scanglo either via their website www.scanglo.co.uk/catseyes.html or write to them at Scanglo Limited, Lodge Farm, Cromer Road, Hainford, Norwich NR10 3AT.

*This includes September, Christmas and Easter intakes as distribution is only done once a year and doesn't include nursery/pre-school children.

For further information about Nationwide's scheme please contact: catseyes@nationwide.co.uk

Nationwide gratefully acknowledges the generous co-operation of the many organisations and individuals who have contributed to the development of this road safety initiative. Among others they include:

BRAKE - a non-profit making organisation promoting the safe use of roads by addressing the skills and attitudes of road users, enforcement of traffic rules and appropriate punishment and education of road users who break the law. www.brake.org.uk

PACTS - The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) is a registered charity and an associate Parliamentary Group. Its charitable objective is "To promote transport safety legislation to protect human life". Its aim is to advise and inform members of the House of Commons and of the House of Lords on air, rail and road safety issues. www.pacts.org.uk

ROSPA - The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is a registered charity and is actively involved in the promotion of safety in all areas of life including on the roads. www.rospa.org.uk

The Department for Transport 'Be Safe Be Seen' campaign aimed at promoting road safety issues to 7-12 year olds. www.dft.gov.uk/think/teachers/lessonplans/ www.hedgehogs.gov.uk