AHEAD of the summer holidays, Essex Police's Commercial Vehicle Unit used a lorry to give a "thumbs up" road safety talk to Thurrock primary school pupils, so they can stay safe in the holidays.

Sergeant Jason Dearsley was joined by his Commercial Vehicle Unit (CVU) colleague PC Bowyer and Chigwell Roads Policing officer, PC Wright, in giving a talk to the pupils at Harris Primary School, South Stifford, on Wednesday 8 July.

The CVU sergeant explained: "The thumbs up campaign highlights that HGV drivers have blind spots and can't always see what is happening around them, especially when reversing.

 "We've been explaining to the children how it's important that they are seen when they use the road and that if they adopt the thumbs up procedure, they can stay safe."

Thumbs up is a simple way to communicate with an HGV driver, or any other driver. By giving a thumbs up you are signalling that you want to enter the area or cross the road and the driver can take the necessary action to keep the pedestrian safe.

To emphasise the road safety message, the pupils were given the opportunity to view an HGV lorry, on loan from nearby Iveco UK, up close. 

"The pupils, teachers and those pupils with special educational needs had the opportunity to work out just how many children could stand in front of the vehicle and not be seen – a very visually effective road safety tool! 

The unit vehicles.

"The children were the stars of the show and we stayed for almost an entire school day so that as many children as possible could benefit before going on summer holidays and ask as may questions as they could!"

The thumbs up talk is the first of nine planned talks to be delivered to Year 5 and 6 pupils in the Thurrock district due to the number of businesses and commercial journeys made each year in the area and is supported by Thurrock Council.

"There are five road deaths in the UK every day, and every 16 minutes someone is the victim of life changing injuries because of a collision. If we've prevented just one fatal collision by today's talk and had fun whilst learning, then that is simply priceless. The positive engagement and laughter, I hope, will be remembered the next time they go to cross a road." 

The HGV cab was loaned from Iveco UK following a "Toolbox Talk" with professional drivers at their base just five minutes away and shows how the Commercial Vehicle Unit works with local businesses, partners, schools and the community to share the road safety message.