'Glowing' bags to cut road deaths

The reflective bags make people more visible in the dark

Elderly people on Tyneside are being given reflective shopping bags to help stop them becoming accident victims.

The free, glow-in-the-dark bags, are part of a Newcastle City Council scheme and will be given out to the over 60s to make them more visible on the roads.

The bags, with reflective strips, have been made by the Local Authority Road Safety Officers Association (LARSOA).

They will be given out by the council's road safety team and old people's organisations including Age Concern.

Coun Greg Stone, Newcastle City Council executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, said: "This is a very simple idea but also a very good one.

"Obviously, older people's experience tends to make them much safer on our roads.

"Like all pedestrians though, they will be safer on our roads if they wear or carry something bright through the dark winter nights."