WITH the new school year around the corner, police are being sent out on bikes to educate children about road safety.

Over the next two weeks, around 200 officers from Kent Police will be out giving advice to children who walk, cycle or take the bus or train to and from school.

Officers will be handing out items such as reflective wrap straps, high visibility drawstring bags, ultra-violet property marking pens, plastic drink bottles and stickers to children who make their own way to school.

Police will also be doing speed checks around the county in areas identified as having speed problems.

Superintendent Jon Sutton, from Kent Police’s citizen focus team said: “We want to reach as many children as possible.

“Officers on bicycles give us greater coverage in our communities.

“Statistics show that road incidents involving children peak when they return to school so it is important we reach as many as possible to make them aware of the dangers.

“Eighty four children suffered serious injuries on the roads in 2008, with three fatally injured.

“A further 570 suffered slight injuries.

“It is a fact that speeding drivers also contribute to the number of incidents on the roads, and we are also focusing on this issue during this period.

“Children need to travel safely to and from school and drivers need to be aware of their speed and keep to safe limits.”

To contact your local neighbourhood officer, visit kent.police.uk and enter your post code or call 01622 690690.