PUPILS will be learning how to stay safe on the county's roads when they start back at school next month.

A series of lesson plans, resources and initiatives will be on offer to schools across East Lancashire to prepare youngsters for dangers they will face as pedestrians, cyclists and even drivers.

Road safety is currently not a compulsory part of the school curriculum.

But following a Government report last month, schools are taking extra steps to teach road safety.

Last month the Transport Committee produced its report detailing how driver education should start at an earlier age in order to cull the carnage being caused by young and inexperienced people behind the wheel.

Now new initiatives for the coming school year include a play, called The Price which will be performed in schools as part of Lancashire County Council's road safety group's Theatre in Education initiative.

The production will be put on by a professional company using a specially written script.

A spokesman for LCC said: "This year's play is aimed at 11 to 12-year-olds transferring to secondary school. It focuses on the issues of peer pressure, how to stay safe on the roads and social respon-sibility."

Blackburn with Darwen Council's award-winning pedestrian training for year one pupils has been expanded for the new term. The training helps children learn how to cross roads safely.

A council spokesman said: "Pedestrian training is the cornerstone of all our primary school-focused road safety education.

"The skills that children learn through practical training are developed and enhanced through each subsequent road safety intervention at primary school with the intention of enabling children to become safe, confident and more independent."

Teenagers will also be able to benefit from a series of Drive to Survive seminars, in conjunction with Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety. These will be offered to all further education colleges as well as apprentice schemes.