Truck Safety Day With Essex County Council

In a collaborative effort to promote road safety and educate young minds, NRG Riverside and Essex County Council delivered an engaging and informative Truck Safety Day at Springfield Primary School. The session offered valuable insights into staying safe around large vehicles whilst raising awareness of advanced truck safety features.

During the session, pupils were introduced to key aspects of truck safety, including:

• Understanding a hook loader: Pupils learned how this specialised vehicle operates, showcasing its key functions and industrial uses.
• Safety features of trucks: Pupils learned about the advanced safety technology trucks are equipped with and discussed the ‘blind spots’ around the vehicle where pedestrians might not be visible to the driver. They also learned about Essex County Council’s investment in upgraded safety systems, including advanced camera systems, audible left-turn warnings, moving-off sensors, and enhanced mirrors. These innovations are designed to improve safety for all road users.
• Road safety tips for pupils: Practical guidance was shared to prepare pupils for safely navigating roads independently, with a focus on staying visible, avoiding blind spots, and crossing roads with care.

Kirsty Hillsden, NRG Riverside’s Business Development Manager said, “Highlighting vehicle blind spots for HGV drivers and items to increase safety in a practical and interactive way, allowed pupils to see first hand the importance of keeping road users safe. Improving road safety standards goes further than vehicle compliance and we found that the engagement from pupils reinforces that education, and awareness is paramount to reducing road incidents. We hope that we are creating future champions of road safety”.

Cllr Lee Scott, Chair of the Safer Essex Roads Partnership, said: “We were thrilled to bring Truck Safety Day to Springfield Primary School. This was a fantastic opportunity for young students to learn about the importance of road safety in a hands-on and engaging way. By bringing a waste vehicle to the school, the children were able to sit in the truck and experience being high up in the vehicle. Essex County Council is committed to ensuring the safety of all our residents, and this initiative is a great way of raising awareness of ‘blind spots’ and being cautious around vehicles.”

Truck Safety Day underscores NRG Riverside’s and Essex County Council’s shared commitment to road safety education and fostering a culture of awareness and improvement for all road users.

Whilst the session was delivered as part of Road Safety Week, road safety is a cause that NRG Riverside and Essex County Council are deeply passionate about all year round. This event serves as a reminder of the ongoing need to raise awareness and to inspire young people to carry these safety messages with them, promoting a culture of responsibility and awareness on the roads for years to come.