Mum’s road safety plea

Dona and Graham Unsworth of Jack Essex from Mossley with a road safety campaign poster at Pennine Medical Centre, Mossley

THE mother of a former Saddleworth School pupil who died after he was struck by a lorry has launched a road safety campaign.

Jack Essex (18) suffered fatal head injuries when he stepped in front of a 7.5 tonne truck in busy Portland Street, Manchester, in January last year. He died in hospital the following day.

Evidence at his inquest pointed to him wearing headphones at the time.

The Stop-Pause-Look-Listen campaign highlights the dangers of using headphones, mobile phones and tablets around roads — not just by pedestrians, but drivers and cyclists too,

Jack’s mum Dona Unsworth, who lives in Mossley, explained: “After losing Jack in a senseless road accident, I needed to focus my energies on creating something positive from the nightmare I found myself in.

“This tragedy and others like it could possibly have been avoided if there had been a national road safety campaign highlighting the dangers of headphones and mobile phone technology.

“People need to realise that this bubble of music and social media they surround themselves with can burst tragically and those seconds of distraction can haunt you and your loved ones for a lifetime. We aren’t out to spoil people’s enjoyment. We want to save lives.”

The family wanted to come up with a new Green Cross Code and the campaign and has a website, designed by Jack’s step-dad, Graham Unsworth. It includes a film made by media students from Salford University.

Local printers have also made posters, car stickers and banners for free.

Watch the video at www. stoppauselooklisten.com.