ON BEHALF of the parents of primary school children in Swindon, in fact throughout the United Kingdom, I would like to thank the Nationwide Building Society for their Cats Eyes for Kids campaign which provided every primary school child with a fun shaped personal reflector to wear on their coats or bags throughout the autumn and winter months.

Having recently travelled as a guest of Nationwide to Finland, and met with their road safety officer Matti Koivurova, I have been able to experience the benefits of the scheme and marvel at the number of wearers of all ages that we saw.

Over the past 20 years the wearing of personal reflectors in the Scandinavian counties has increased, with a dramatic reduction in the number of pedestrians killed.

Children of Swindon can give themselves a pat on the back because the scheme was piloted here in 2000 and due to its success approximately six million children throughout the UK have benefited this year, and children will continue to benefit for a few years to come.

So now look for that reflector you brought home from school and left on top of the fridge and put it on your coat or bag, it could help save your life!

Thank you Nationwide.

MARGARET TESTER

Senior Road Safety Officer

Swindon Borough Council