The Road Safety Centre
The County Council's Road Safety Unit is situated at the Road Safety Centre, in North Road, Cardiff. It has an excellent reputation across Wales for it's road safety education, training, publicity and School Crossing Patrol services.
|
|
The Road Safety Teamprovides a comprehensive level of support to schools and colleges in the county, and advice on a wide variety of training programmes and road safety initiatives, details of which are published periodically in the road safety newsletter - Road Safety Matters. |
The Road Safety Centreprovides a wide range of facilities and is open to the general public during normal working hours. |
|
|
|
During the school termhigh school students attend traffic education courses, while cycling proficiency courses for children aged nine and above are held during the school holiday periods. Youngsters are able to learn in a safer, colourful and realistic environment, which includes a classroom, Child Safety Exhibition, pedestrian crossings, roads, pavements, traffic signs, teachers resource unit, computer suite and colourful wall murals. The Centre is also an approved venue for motorcycle training and instructional courses, and is the Cardiff base for National Bike Safe Wales scheme. |
Each yearduring the Open fortnight more than 2000 children visit the centre to take part in a variety of road safety themed activities. Visits from youth organisations are always welcome, but must be booked in advance. |
|
FacilitiesThe Classroom is the venue for a wide range of road safety courses and seminars. These include pre-driver, moped and cycling theory lessons as well as school crossing patrol training sessions. Visits to the Centre from youth groups, cubs, beavers, brownies etc. are always welcome, but must be arranged in advance. |
|
Child Pedestrian ExhibitionThe Child Pedestrian Exhibition houses an indoor road safety village, which includes a road, pavements, zebra crossing, terraced houses, a park and school entrance. Using role-play, children learn how to use key life-saving crossing the road skills in a safe, realistic and colourful environment. |
|
Roadways and road signsA network of roads, traffic lights and traffic signs provide a realistic off-road training environment where high school students and younger children undertake a variety of practical courses which include, pre-driver, moped, cycling and pedestrian training. |
|
The teachers resourceunit contains an extensive library of road safety teaching resource material which is suitable for all age groups and learning abilities. These materials fit into relevant subjects of the national curriculum. A catalogue is available upon request |
|
Computer SuiteA computer suite, which is located in the pre-driver simulator room, provides students with a opportunity to use state of the art computer software, which assists in the development of hazard recognition and awareness skills. |
|
Local Map
The Road Safety Centre is based at Briardene North Road, in the Gabalfa area of the city and is close to the Gabalfa interchange. The centre is easily accessible from the city centre, M4 and A48. please click on the map to enlarge it. PLEASE NOTE. The only method of access to the Road Safety Centre from the north and south is by means of the roundabout slip road and NOT via the flyover. |
Meet the Team
The road safety unit has a staff of eight officers who are engaged in the promotion of a wide range of road safety education, training and publicity programmes and initiatives. To contact any member of the Road Safety Team Tel: 02920 619907/8
|
David Evans |
|
| John Goff Senior Road Safety Officer |
|
| Paul Griffiths Road Safety Training OfficerSwyddog Hyfforddi Diogelwch y Ffyrdd |
|
| Sallyanne Dangerfield Road Safety Training OfficerSwyddog Hyfforddi Diogelwch y Ffyrdd |
|
| Germaine Walsh Road Safety Training Officer |
|
| John Reed Road Safety Training Officer |
|
| Jayne Warnock
Child Pedestrian Training Coordinator |
|
| Vacant
Safer Routes to School Officer |
The History of Briardene
Over the years, many visitors to the Road Safety Centre have commented at the splendour and character of this fine example of Victorian architecture and asked numerous questions as to its history. Apart from a single foundation stone dating back to 1903, which is set into the wall under the porch, now the main entrance, and the splendid period fireplaces, little was known about the house which in its earlier days was known as Briar Dene.
In 1999, Meriel Lewis, who had family connections with the house, paid a visit to the Road Safety Centre and decided to undertake a detailed research into the history of Briar Dene. After 100 years this fine old house has given up some of the secrets of its past in the form a fine collection of original photographs, three of which are shown above.
Try to imagine Briar Dene as it was in bygone days, with young children playing in the vast grounds, picking apples in the orchards. Maids going about their daily chores, gardeners tending to the roses, shrubs and driveways, guests enjoying afternoon tea on the patio or a game of croquet on the lawn. Briar Dene, the home that was, which is now the office and work place for Cardiff Council's Road Safety Team.