Thousands of children safer thanks to Split Second Project

Road safety has taken centre stage in an innovative programme using drama to help more than 13,000 children, across 83 schools in the region.

Year 7 students across West Yorkshire have been involved in the Split Second project, a lively theatre show and an interactive workshop, supported by a teachers' resource pack.

The performance followed teenagers Charlie, Alya and Ash as they managed relationships, homework, and importantly, travelling to and from school.

Professional actors brought the roles to life in a relatable and engaging story which culminated in how it only takes a split second for simple actions to have life-altering consequences.

The project was well received across West Yorkshire with students feeding back that they plan to be more careful, have a greater awareness of road safety and how they can be safer while using roads.

Topics covered by the programme included distraction through the use of electronic devices, dealing with peer pressure, and making safe and healthy choices.

Dixons McMillan Academy in Bradford was one of the latest schools to take part.

Chloe Swain, Head of Key Stage 3, at Dixons McMillan Academy, said: "At Dixons McMillan Academy we understand how important it is for students to be aware and take responsibility for themselves whilst travelling to and from school. It was fantastic to see Year 7 engaged and enthusiastically watching the performance and taking part in the workshop."

The project was delivered by Collingwood Learning and funded by the West Yorkshire Vision Zero Partnership as part of their strategy to eliminate all road deaths and serious injuries across the county by 2040.

Alison Lowe OBE, Chair of the West Yorkshire Vision Zero Partnership and the region’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, as well as Assistant Chief Constable Rob McCoubrey, West Yorkshire Police’s Operations Support lead also joined the performance in Bradford.

Alison, said: “It was fantastic to see young people so engaged with this initiative which clearly resonated with them.

“In 2023, there were 327 child pedestrians injured in road collisions in the county.

“Every single one of those is heartbreaking and we must all continue to do everything in our power to protect our young people.”

Assistant Chief Constable Rob McCoubrey, said: “It is important for people of all ages to understand road safety messages.

“Initiatives like Split Second really help in reaching young people, and I hope everyone who has seen the performance has taken something away from it.

“We remain committed to making our roads safer for all road users and working as part of the Vision Zero partnership to reduce the number of serious injury and fatal collisions in West Yorkshire.”

Chris Simes, Managing Director at Collingwood Learning, said: “We are delighted to partner with West Yorkshire Vision Zero to deliver this important programme.

“At Collingwood Learning, we believe in the power of education to change lives. Split Second is more than just a road safety initiative—it’s about empowering young people to make better decisions, keep themselves safe, and create safer communities for everyone.

“We want to install lifelong habits that will contribute to West Yorkshire Vision Zero’s goal of eliminating road deaths and serious injuries.”

Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning & Transport said: “In Bradford, we recognise how effective theatre in education can be, especially for Year 7 students who are gaining more independence. That’s why we’ve funded a further 10 performances – to ensure even more young people benefit from these engaging road safety performances. This is part of our commitment to Vision Zero.”