Pupils at Robert Burns Academy in Cumnock got a different kind of lesson this week — one that could save their lives. In a hands-on event hosted at Barony Campus, Police Scotland teamed up with a local haulage firm to show S1 pupils the real-world dangers on Scotland’s roads.
Organised by campus police officer PC Aitken, the April 4th road safety session was more than just a slideshow. It tackled a growing concern: young people being seriously hurt in traffic collisions — especially involving large vehicles like buses and HGVs.
Why this wasn’t just another school day
This wasn’t your average classroom lecture with eyes glazed over. It started off with a stark reminder: kids are getting injured, sometimes seriously, and it’s happening too often.
Just recently, a boy in nearby Kilmarnock was left fighting for his life after a collision involving a bus. That incident stuck with PC Aitken — and it shaped the very core of this initiative.
She didn’t mince her words when speaking to the pupils either.
“There’s been quite a lot of incidents recently with young people being involved in collisions when they’ve been on their bikes on the roads,” she told them. “This isn’t just something that happens somewhere else. It’s here, too.”
It’s that rural context that makes the issue more urgent. With fewer footpaths and more country roads, visibility is limited and traffic moves fast.
What the pupils actually learned
The session wasn’t all theory. Stuart Miller from T. French and Sons, a local haulage business, brought in the big rigs — literally.
First, the pupils sat through a presentation. Then, things got real. Out in the car park, they got up close with a real HGV. That’s where the concept of a “blind spot” turned from an abstract idea into something they could actually feel.
One pupil stepped forward, then disappeared from the driver’s line of sight. That silence said more than any slide ever could.
The key lessons pupils took away:
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Don’t assume drivers can see you, especially near large vehicles
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Wear helmets and reflective gear, even if it “looks uncool”
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Make eye contact with drivers before crossing — if they don’t see you, you’re invisible
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Night cycling without proper lights is risky, even deadly
Sitting in the driver’s seat — literally
Then came the part they’d been waiting for: climbing inside.
Kids got to sit in the police car, flick the lights, and pretend for a moment they were the ones keeping the streets safe. But the bigger impact came when they climbed up into the HGV.
From that vantage point, they saw what drivers see. Or more accurately, what they don’t.
One pupil was shocked. “I thought they could see everything from up there,” he said, wide-eyed. “But they really can’t. It’s scary.”
And that was exactly the point.
Local leaders get involved
The event wasn’t just a one-off. There’s momentum behind it.
Councillors Neill Watts and Jim McMahon turned up to show their support, listening in on the session and chatting with staff. Later, Provost Claire Leitch and Councillor William Lennox dropped by too.
It’s clear this isn’t being brushed aside. It’s being taken seriously.
PC Aitken plans to expand the project well beyond RBA’s S1s. She’s got 12 feeder primary schools in her sights next.
Why this matters now more than ever
PC Aitken didn’t sugarcoat it.
“Sometimes parents and guardians don’t know the full dangers of being on a bike, especially when it’s at night and they can’t be seen properly,” she said.
And that’s a scary thought. Kids are learning to ride, exploring their independence — but in rural areas, that freedom comes with real risk.
“There’s just things that youngsters don’t always think about,” she said. “But if we hammer it home now, it becomes instinct.”
One-liner that stuck out?
“This isn’t just a message — it’s a habit we need to build.”
Plans are already rolling for summer
It doesn’t end here.
PC Aitken and her colleague PC Rae are both now trained in cycling proficiency, and they’re getting ready to launch a summer road safety programme with youth group Yipworld.
It’ll be a mix of cycling lessons, confidence-building, and hard facts. Not just how to ride — but how to ride safely.
And it’s all part of a much wider push happening across East Ayrshire schools.
Here’s what the rollout looks like:
| Programme Part | Description | Partners Involved |
|---|---|---|
| S1 Safety Day | Live road safety demos, HGV blind spot awareness | Police Scotland, T. French and Sons |
| Feeder Primary Presentations | Modified sessions for younger pupils | PC Aitken, East Ayrshire Council |
| Summer Road Cycling Scheme | Proficiency skills, helmet awareness, visibility checks | Yipworld, Campus Police |
| Parental Info Packs | Guides on night visibility, gear, local cycling routes | Schools, PC Rae |
It’s a clear plan — not just reactionary, but preventative.
Beyond the lecture halls and parking lots
You could feel it during the event: this wasn’t ticking a box or just doing a community outreach “thing.”
It was direct, personal. And from the way the kids interacted — from asking questions to climbing into the cab of that lorry with real curiosity — it clearly hit home.
And that’s what makes this stand out. No fluff, no overblown slogans. Just kids, learning how to stay alive out there.
