TfL Pioneers Road Safety Obstacle Course
About this activity
Suitable for secondary schools.
NB: We’re bringing together all the TfL education programmes, including STARS, under one exciting new umbrella programme called TfL Travel for Life. They will be the same great programmes, but with a new name and a new look, easier online process and dedicated support team. STARS for primary schools will be renamed TfL Explorers. STARS for secondary schools will be renamed TfL Pioneers.
Do you want a practical way to show your pupils the effect of being distracted on the roads?
Run a road safety obstacle course in your school to demonstrate how being distracted can affect your ability to complete straightforward tasks.
Use the TfL Travel For Life Road Safety Obstacle Course package to help your pupils understand the dangers of using mobile technology on the roads. Complete with teacher plan, score sheets and a presentation you will have all you need to complete the course (see resources).
How it works
Pupils complete an obstacle course in two teams; once with no distractions and once whilst writing a text message. Penalties are incurred for obstacles being missed, touched or knocked over and in the second race, for mistakes in the text message. The greater the number of penalties, the more severe the consequences.
With your pupils compare the sets of data to illustrate how a straightforward task can be made much harder when distracted by mobile technology. You can then relate this to real-life situations, reinforcing the message of how being distracted by technology, friends or surroundings can pose an increased risk of danger from traffic.
What you’ll need
- A large open space such as the school hall or gym
- Large obstacles (bollards, rounder’s posts, hoops, benches, cones)
- Two stopwatches
- Two mobile phones
- Sponge balls and a bucket
- Score sheet
How to evidence your activity
- Involve your borough officer: Share your ideas, agree your targets and discuss any challenges you face
- Record the feedback from your pupils
- Add your story to the TfL Travel For Life website. Explain the activity, add photos and include pupils’ feedback and any risk assessments
This activity supports the Vision Zero target to eliminate death and serious injuries on London’s streets.
Activity steps
Tags
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Walking
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Independent travel
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Road safety
This activity counts towards:
- Travel activity
How it helps
- Introduces key road safety messages
- Encourages road safety and awareness