TAUNTON schools are invited to enter designs for road safety banners as part of a competition linked to Road Safety Week (November 23 to 29).

For the seventh year running, promotional products, badges and school uniform specialist Recognition Express Taunton is joining forces with Brake to hold this popular competition.

Brake, the national road safety charity, organises Road Safety Week and this year’s theme is: Drive less – live more. The safest mile is the mile not driven.

Children aged four to 11 are being asked to design a banner that will encourage people to consider alternatives to motorised transport and understand the benefits driving less can bring to road safety, health, personal finances, communities and the planet.

Five people die every day on UK roads and around 60 are seriously injured – figures that fell dramatically in recent decades, but then increased by 4% in the most recent 12 months.

It is estimated in the region of 12,000 premature deaths in the UK each year are attributable to traffic pollution, and that motor transport is a major contributor to global warming and the threat it poses to humanity.

Winners will be presented with a large-scale printed banner featuring their design for display outside their school. In addition, their school will receive a high-visibility drawstring bag for every pupil and the child behind the winning design will be given a special award.

Each participating school will get free annual membership to Brake. This includes a Road Safety Week e-action pack with downloadable posters and tips on activities that schools can run, as well as on-going news bulletins on other Brake initiatives and campaigns.

Kevin Andrews, owner of Recognition Express Taunton, said: “We receive more interest in our road safety banners competition every year, and the quality of entries is always very high.

"This year’s theme is an interesting one with a lot of scope for children to use their imagination.

"I am sure pupils will have a lot of fun designing banners to communicate this very important message and we look forward to seeing the entries.

“Brake does an excellent job of keeping road safety issues on the political agenda and we fully support the campaign challenging drivers to take a fresh look at how they travel.

"We could all walk or cycle far more instead of hopping in the car for short journeys just because it’s quicker.“

Joe Burns, corporate fundraiser at Brake, said: “Recognition Express Taunton has been a long term supporter of Road Safety Week and we always look forward to seeing the fabulous banner designs created by school pupils up and down the country.

"Their competition is a powerful way to engage with young children on important road safety issues and drive home the campaign theme.

"We encourage schools to take part and use the opportunity to plan lessons and activities surrounding Road Safety Week.”

Competition entry details are available at online - click on the related link - or by contacting Kevin Andrews by e-mail at sales@re-taunton.co.uk

The closing date for entries is Friday, October 9.