Banff & District Schools Bus Safety Poster Competition.

Almost 100 youngsters at Banff Academy submitted art entries for a school bus safety calendar to be produced by the Aberdeenshire Community Safety Partnership.

The entries were scrutinised by members of the Banff & District Community Safety Group who selected two for the calendar. Group Chairman Nick Dolphin said:

"We had 95 entries from Banff Academy and selecting two was extremely difficult. The standard was high and the subject got the pupils thinking about school bus safety."

Many of the poster drawings contained the message that pupils should stop, look and listen, after leaving school buses.

Mr Dolphin said:

"There was also a theme running through many of the entries about not using mobile phones the second pupils step off buses."

He said the impetus for the project was the school bus safety campaign started by Ron Beaty of Gardenstown, whose granddaughter Erin was struck by a car and badly injured in 2004.

In September 2008, 15-year-old Robyn Oldham, of Birkenhills, near Turriff died after she was struck by a car after getting off a school bus. Later that same month, 12-year-old Alexander Milne was killed as he crossed the road near his home at Lonmay, Fraserburgh.

Mr Dolphin said:

"Sadly, the subject is very pertinent in this area."

The Banff entries chosen for the calendar were submitted by first-year pupils Stephen Donald and Joi Addison.

Nick Dolphin, Chairman of Banff & District Community Safety Group with the two winning posters which were were submitted by first-year pupils Stephen Donald and Joi Addison.
Photo: The Banffshire Journal