HUNDREDS of Gravesend schoolchildren have launched their own campaign against dangerous driving.

On a blustery day last week, the pupils set off 500 balloons carrying road safety messages as part of a massive campaign to cut accidents.

Tanya Williams, five, wrote on her card: "You must be careful near the road because children are getting injured."

Another five-year-old, Lewis Abnett, simply stated: "You must be careful not to bump children."

The launch marked the start of Kent County Council's (KCC) three-year ChildLife project. The balloons represented the 5,000 children killed or seriously injured on Britain's roads last year. In Gravesend alone, 41 children were injured in road accidents.

KCC's road safety officer for Gravesend Annette Angeletta said: "This project is important because it sends a message to drivers as well as involving children. It is part of a much wider range of activities we are involved in, such as cycling proficiency courses and pushing the message about drink driving."

The children from Whitehill Junior and Infant Schools, Sun Lane, Gravesend, got together in the playground on Thursday to send the cards off.

They are printed with a return address to KCC's road safety department for drivers to reply to. Speaking after the launch, chairman of KCC's highways advisory board Grahame Weston said: "Gravesend is one of the target areas where casualties are high."

Gravesham Mayor Councillor Valerie Ashenden said: "It is important for parents as we want to cut down the numbers driving their children to school."

November 12, 2001 9:03

Richard Simcox