On 25th January the pupils of The Robert Arkenstall Primary School were able to climb up into the cab of an HGV truck and see for themselves what lorry drivers can see when they are driving.
“I was shocked how little of the road immediately around the vehicle can be clearly seen, although the driver has mirrors and cameras to help” says Parish Councillor Stephen Thompson. Quite apart from giving children access to the truck being a lot of fun, the truck visit served as instructive for two campaigns relating to road safety in Haddenham.
“Lorry Watch” was started by Haddenham Parish Council during 2022 and Phase 1 of this involved observing the number, speed and the style of driving of HGVs short-cutting through the village on the A1421. Haddenham PC have applied to the County Council to have a weight limit put in place on the road. After representations from the parish council several haulage companies have agreed to stop using the village as a short cut from the A142 towards Newmarket and Cambridge, including Turners (Soham) Ltd.
“Phase 2 of Lorry Watch includes calling on the help of the children of the village,” explained Stephen Thompson. “We have identified six main roads in and out of the village and will be monitoring HGV vehicles using the A1421 so we can fully understand where they are coming from and where they are going to.” Thirty-four people have signed up as volunteers and when children are involved, they will be accompanied by an adult. The study will run throughout February and after that the parish council will analyse the results and use the data as part of the application for the weight limit through the village.
The school is pushing forward with its own road safety initiative, they have appointed six pupils as “Junior Travel Ambassadors”. Activities include a competition for the best designed road safety poster and seeking safety pledges from parents. They are also making a community safety film and have applied for funding from East Cambs Community Safety Partnership. The six Junior Travel Ambassadors helped show their fellow pupils the truck and shared their learning about safety:-
“You must never overtake a lorry on the inside on your bike or walk out in front of a lorry, they won’t be able to see you,” said the Ambassadors. When asked what they think about the safety initiative one said, “It’s really important and I am very proud we can help keep children safe walking to school.”
Stephen Blackmore, Haddenham resident and Fuel and Driver Safety Manager from Turners, explained that they are working with seven local villages to avoid village centre short cuts and using telematics they can track where their drivers are and what speed they are doing. Stephen answered lots of questions from pupils including where drivers sleep, how the cameras work and how far they drive. Two teachers, two teaching assistants and a volunteer, along with Lizzi Wales Youth Co-ordinator from the County Council supervised the children’s “hands on” experience of the truck.
Press release from Haddenham Parish Council
initiative to minimise HGV traffic through the village.
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