PRESS RELEASE
9 June 2013

JRI LIMITED GIVE FREE HIGH VISIBIITY VESTS TO TARANAKI SCHOOLS

New Plymouth based business, JRI Limited (John Rae Insurance), has teamed up with the local police and Roadsafe Taranaki this week to launch the ‘Safety@School’ Project which is designed to encourage children to stay safe around roads. 

As part of the new ‘Safety@School’ Project which was launched on facebook.com/John.Rae.Insurance, the local insurance broking company has spent over $10,000 so far on the project and is supplying schools and kindergartens throughout Taranaki with free high visibility vests to wear whilst out on school trips.  Over the next three to five years John Rae Insurance is aiming to supply free high visibility vests to every school and kindergarten in Taranaki. 

On Tuesday 4^th June staff from John Rae Insurance and police sergeant George White visited Spotswood Primary the first school to pilot the new initiative, to hand out the high visibility vests and explain the importance of wearing them when walking outside of school. 

Spotswood Primary School Principal, Allan Day, said: “We are honored to be the first school to pilot the new initiative and are extremely thankful to John and his team for their support and understanding of how important child safety is. It is testament to businesses like this that our community is able to thrive and I’m proud to be a part of something truly special.” 

This initiative, headed by Business Owner John Rae, is designed to support the community and local schools that are always looking for ways to improve safety and protect children whilst out on school trips. John said: “We are always keen to support the community in any way possible and as a parent and grandparent this feels like a great opportunity to do something which is extremely beneficial to many schools. School trips are crucial for children’s development but with various health and safety concerns this is often not possible. The vests will ensure the children can be identified in a crowd and seen by drivers at a distance.” 

Statistics released by the Ministry of Transport said there were 237 crashes on the roads in Taranaki in 2011 and pedestrians aged less than 25 years and those over 65 years are at the greatest risk of injury. Based on these statistics the police are keen to support this initiative and promote road safety. George White said: “We believe that with the right messages and resources we can lower these statistics and work towards a safer environment for the children of Taranaki.”

JRI, a full-service commercial and general insurance brokerage, handling all types of business and personal insurance, work with people on a daily basis in Taranaki who require motor vehicle insurance and one of the biggest causes of accidents on the road is the lack of visibility of pedestrians and cyclists.

Marion Webby of Roadsafe Taranaki said: “I applaud John and his team for stepping up and helping promote road safety in the community. The Safe System approach to road safety recognises that people make mistakes, people are vulnerable, we need to share responsibility and we need to improve the safety of all parts of the system.  JRI, through this project is addressing 3 of the 4 key areas in the Safer Journeys, New Zealand’s road safety strategy to 2020. Children and teachers using the footpath are also using the road network, so slow down, be considerate and remember children can be unpredictable so be ready to stop.”

12 schools and kindergartens have signed on to the project which will equate to 521 high visibility vests being required based on supplying enough for 2 classes to be out on a school trip at the same time. 730 vests are still available, to register your school or kindergarten for the ‘Safety@School’ project or to find out more visit www.jri.co.nz/news.

End.

For further information or to register your interest please contact Benita Murray – 06 758 8440 or benita@jri.co.nz.