National Highways traffic officer Gemmanesse Plant has found a fun and engaging way to share her road safety messages at events thanks to a fleet of mini traffic vehicles she’s created in her spare time.

Gemmanesse, who has worked as a traffic officer in Nottinghamshire for two years, regularly visits community events to offer up road safety advice and tips, and speak about her role.

She began creating her own mini versions of the traffic officer vehicles after her five-year-old nephew visited an event and she saw how excited he became on seeing the vehicle she drives each day.

“He wouldn’t stop talking about how he ‘drove auntie Gemm’s traffic car’ but it got me thinking about how great it would be to have a mini version that kids can play on and drive at these events,” she said.

“They’re a great distraction for the children while the adults get a little longer to talk to me. I can share safety advice with them, answer questions and tell them about what we do at National Highways and about my role as a traffic officer.”

Gemmanesse bought two of the preloved vehicles similar in shape to the Tesla vehicle she drives in her day job, with a third being donated by a colleague. She then painted them black before adding reflective stickers, handmade labels and rechargeable flashing lights to replicate the life-size version.

She added: “They’re 100% worth the effort and really draw in a crowd as all the children want to play on them.”

(Pic: National Highways)