STUDENTS from two Chineham schools are set to learn about the importance of road safety, especially around large vehicles.

As part of Road Safety Week from November 20-26, UK-based logistics company Gist will host Four Lanes Junior School and Great Binfields Primary School as part of its child road safety programme.

Gist, based in Chineham Business Park, will give the students an interactive presentation and practical demonstration using one of Gist’s full-sized commercial lorries.

During the sessions, Gist drivers will take the children through the specific issues of safety around large vehicles as well as a presentation on general road safety and advice on staying safe on the roads, whether on foot or cycling.

Using the visual aid of a full-sized Gist lorry – to be parked in the car park throughout the day - the children will see for themselves the sheer size of the vehicle and how this impacts the stopping distance through a selection of games. The children will also get a chance to sit in the cab and experience what a driver can and cannot see, focusing on the importance of understanding blind spots.

Corinne Martinez, headteacher at Four Lanes Junior School, said: “We are all really looking forward to visiting Gist. It is so important that all our pupils understand not just the risks around larger vehicles but also the importance of being sensible on the road, whether walking to and from school or playing at the weekend.

“The presentation promises to be an interactive lesson which we hope will leave a lasting impression on our pupils.”

In support of Road Safety Week, Gist is also hosting a number of other child road safety presentations around the country.

Martin Gwynn, Gist CEO, said: “The Gist Child Road Safety programme is a great way for our people to help keep children safer on today’s even busier roads.

“The presentation by our drivers is fun and interactive and culminates in the children getting to see first-hand what visibility is like from inside one of these large lorries, and how important it is to take steps to keep themselves safe.”