East Midlands traffic officer's drive to get children on board with road safety
National Highways traffic officer Gemmanesse Plant has found a fun and engaging way to share her road safety messages at events thanks to a fleet of mini traffic vehicles she’s created in her spare time.
Gemmanesse, who has worked as a traffic officer in Nottinghamshire for two years, regularly visits community events to offer up road safety advice and tips, and speak about her role.
She began creating her own mini versions of the traffic officer vehicles after her five-year-old nephew visited an event and she saw how excited he became on seeing the vehicle she drives each day.
“He wouldn't stop talking about how he ‘drove auntie Gemm’s traffic car’ but it got me thinking about how great it would be to have a mini version that kids can play on and drive at these events,” she said.
“They’re a great distraction for the children while the adults get a little longer to talk to me. I can share safety advice with them, answer questions and tell them about what we do at National Highways and about my role as a traffic officer.”
Gemmanesse bought two of the preloved vehicles similar in shape to the Tesla vehicle she drives in her day job, with a third being donated by a colleague. She then painted them black before adding reflective stickers, handmade labels and rechargeable flashing lights to replicate the life-size version.
She added: “They’re 100% worth the effort and really draw in a crowd as all the children want to play on them.”
National Highways traffic officers work around the clock, 365 days a year to support road users by assisting drivers who have broken down, helping to keep motorways and major A roads moving and people safe.
They regularly attend community events to share safety advice and details of upcoming projects in the area.
Find out more about National Highways’ safety campaigns at https://nationalhighways.co.uk/road-safety/
Notes to Editors
National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.
Real-time traffic information for England’s motorways and major A roads is available via the Traffic England website, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Local Twitter services are also available.
For further information please contact National Highways' press office (24hrs) on 0844 693 1448 and select the most appropriate option:
Option 1: National enquiries (9am to 5.30pm) and out of hours for urgent enquiriesOption 2: North West (9am to 5.30pm)Option 3: Yorkshire and North East (9am to 5.30pm)Option 4: West Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)Option 5: East Midlands (9am to 5.30pm)Option 6: East (9am to 5.30pm)Option 7: South East (9am to 5.30pm)Option 8: South West (9am to 5.30pm)
