Firefighters piloted a new road safety initiative ‘Be Bright, Shine Your Light’ on Friday in a bid to make it safer for children who are cycling to school during the dark winter months.

%image(15637944, type="article-full", alt="Stevenage fire station white watch hand out free bike lights as part of a new road safety initiative called "Be Bright Shine Your Light". Picture: DANNY LOO")

White Watch from Stevenage Fire Station visited Marriotts School in the town, where 115 students bike to school on a regular basis, and fitted lights to pupils’ bikes as part of the initiative.

Steve Holton, area commander for prevention, said: “Be Bright, Shine Your Light is a great opportunity to encourage cyclists to take more care when cycling between dusk and dawn – giving other road users the best chance of seeing them early and avoiding an accident.”

Be Bright, Shine Your Light is set to be rolled out to other schools in Stevenage, and possibly across Herts, subject to securing financial backing.

So far, the Hertfordshire Road Safety Partnership has donated £500 and Specialist Cars BMW and Mini have also donated £100 each.

%image(15637946, type="article-full", alt="Stevenage fire station white watch hand out free bike lights as part of a new road safety initiative called "Be Bright Shine Your Light". Picture: DANNY LOO")

%image(15637947, type="article-full", alt="Stevenage fire station white watch hand out free bike lights as part of a new road safety initiative called "Be Bright Shine Your Light". Picture: DANNY LOO")

%image(15637949, type="article-full", alt="Stevenage fire station white watch hand out free bike lights as part of a new road safety initiative called "Be Bright Shine Your Light". Picture: DANNY LOO")