A Harrow school has joined Transport for London’s latest campaign to reduce the number of young teenagers killed or seriously injured on London roads.

As part of TfL’s ongoing road safety campaign, a stencilled image featuring the outline of a figure has been placed in the grounds of Nower Hill High School to urge teenagers to think about the issue of road safety.

The stencil strapline ‘Think! Look out for your mates’ aims to put road safety in the forefront of teenager’s minds.

Eight young people were killed or seriously injured in the borough in 2007. The campaign theme ‘Don’t let your friendship die on the road’ is based on the insight that friendship is one of the most important things in young people’s lives.

The striking campaign posters feature young people lying on the road as a result of a road collision are already visible across the Capital. These will be displayed in sites around the borough to ensure the message reaches as many young people as possible.

Young teenagers are more likely to be involved as a pedestrian in a road collision than any other age group. Boys and young people from deprived backgrounds are particularly vulnerable. Posters have been placed in close proximity to schools and in areas of high footfall across London. Figures from 2007 show that incidents are more likely to occur between 3pm and 5pm. Statistics for 2008 will be published in the coming months.

George Nagle Assistant Headteacher of Nower Hill High School said: “We welcome these stencils which will help raise the awareness of road safety. If it reduces injury to our students then it is worth it. The streets are designed for both pedestrians and drivers and it is important that our students are encouraged to act in a sensible manner. Students will relate to the artwork and it will encourage them to lookout for themselves and each other when crossing the road.”

In addition to poster adverts, an emotional radio advert dramatises the effects of young loss as a teenager reads a eulogy for a best friend at their funeral.

Chris Lines , Head of the TfL Road Safety Unit said: “Every day a teenager is killed or seriously injured on London roads. While this number is steadily falling, one injury is still one too many, “These stencils are an alternative way of communicating our message through a visual medium that the teenagers will see in their every day environment.

“They are designed to get teenagers talking about road safety in schools. This year Transport for London is spending £57m on further safety measures on the capital’s roads.”

The teen road safety initiative is part of a long-term TfL road safety campaign that continues to work to reduce the number of young road users who are killed or are seriously injured in the Capital.