Mike Penning has backed a campaign highlighting the importance of school crossing patrols.

The Kwik Fit Insurance Lollipop Person of the Year campaign, which is open to all primary schools in the UK, aims to find Britain’s favourite lollipop person.

The campaign, launched by TV star Lorraine Kelly in London on September 23, also highlights the importance of having adequate supervision for children who have to cross roads on the way to school.

Mike Penning, who earlier this year took part in a House of Commons debate calling for a ban on overtaking of school buses, said: “The safety of Dacorum’s children on our roads is of paramount importance so we must make sure that we do everything possible to protect them on their way to school.”

He added:
“I’d like to see more being done to acknowledge the important work of lollipop people in the area, since they not only help children cross the road safely but may encourage drivers to slow down on roads around schools.”

Pedestrian injury is listed as the leading cause of accidental death of children in the UK.

Lorraine Kelly, who has been an ambassador for the campaign for the last two years, said: “The Lollipop Person of the Year Awards is a real heart-warming way of recognising the wonderful job our lollipop people do every day to make Britain’s roads safer for our children.

“This year the competition is bigger than ever before, with schools from Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, all having the opportunity to show how their lollipop person makes a real difference to their journey to school. We want kids, teachers and parents alike to show their support for their local lollipop person and get voting!”

The Kwik Fit Insurance Lollipop Person of the Year will win the holiday of a lifetime; their schools will receive a range of prizes including £3,000 to spend on school equipment. In addition, the competition will also announce twelve regional winners from across the UK who will also receive £500 worth of holiday vouchers and each of the 12 schools will be awarded with £100 worth of book tokens.

Nominations for the Kwik Fit Insurance Lollipop Person of the Year Awards 2009 will be taken until Friday 30 October 2009.

Brendan Devine, group managing director of Kwik Fit Financial Services, added: “We want to make sure that Britain’s children are safe on their walk to school, which means that not only do we need to have plenty of lollipop people, but it’s vitally important that motorists think about how they drive around towns and near schools.

“We are determined to help improve the UK’s road safety record for children and we think the Lollipop Person of the Year campaign is a good way to raise awareness of the important role played by lollipop people in making roads safer.”

More information and entry details can be found at www.bestlollipop.co.uk [1] .