The design, entitled Don’t Drive, Let Nature Thrive, promotes on safe and sustainable travel, helping everyone to think about the changes we can all make to help reduce harmful emissions.

The winning illustration was designed by Ruby Coia, from Muiredge Primary School, Uddingston, and supports climate-change actions by focusing on the active-travel theme of walking, wheeling or scooting.

Also included in the Primary 6 pupil’s detailed design is an example of a safe place to cross, with the traffic lights giving a reminder to always look for a clear or safe place to cross the road.

Ruby’s winning entry will feature on the 2024 Road Safety Calendar, which is distributed to all schools. Ruby’s prize for winning includes £100, an individual trophy and the school being presented the Road Safety Calendar School Trophy that they can exhibit during the year ahead.

 

All South Lanarkshire schools are invited to take part in the annual competition by the council’s Traffic and Transportation Section, and this year it received 3230 entries from 96 schools.

All class stages are given a particular theme for their entries, with the 2023/24 topics being ‘Holding hands’ for Primary 1 and 2; ‘Crossing the road safely’ for Primary 3 and 4; ‘Cycling, walking and scooting to school’ for Primary 5 and 6; ‘Safe car journeys/Parking’ for Primary 7 and ‘Being a safe pedestrian or passenger’ for S1 to 6.

Councillor Davie McLachlan, Chair of South Lanarkshire Council’s Roads Safety Forum, said: “Congratulations to Ruby for winning this year’s competition with her creative artwork. It conveys several aspects very easily and effectively, and is immediately eye-catching.

“Yet again, we had a high standard of entries this year, and I would like to thank all the schools for their support to ensuring the continuing success of the competition in attracting entries and raising awareness of some vital issues. Well done to all that took part and contributed to the promotion of road safety.”

As well as Ruby receiving the overall prize, prize money was won for first, second and third places in each year group, and Highly Commended certificates were also given to pupils whose artwork or road-safety message was creative and eye-catching.

The winning illustrations can be found on the council’s website.