A NEW Manchester website has been given the green light by road safety campaigners.

www.gmroadsafety.co.uk aims to increase road safety awareness across Manchester in line with the Government's 'Think!' campaign.

The site contains information for both parents and teachers, including details on road safety education, pedestrian and cyclist safety, in-car safety, inappropriate speed and drink driving.

It also shows how Manchester's road safety units get the message across in schools.

The site, specifically aimed at children, has three interactive educational games catering for six to 16-year-olds.

An ''infant'' game focuses on learning how to cross the road safely using a pedestrian crossing and green man.

The ''junior'' game involves making a bicycle roadworthy.

Games

Both the infant and junior games have bright, cartoon-style animations for easy use and use a character called Tommy. A ''senior'' game is a 10-question driving quiz aimed at preparing young adults for their driving tests.

Example questions include stopping distances, traffic signs and signals, safe driving and alertness to other road users.

The site is a collaboration between Greater Manchester's road safety units in Salford, Manchester, Bury, Bolton, Stockport, Wigan, Trafford, Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside.

It has been created by city centre media consultancy Magneto Interactive. The 11-strong new media agency, based in the city's Northern Quarter, created the site to educate people of all ages about road safety.

It has received the backing by leading road safety experts.

Support

Stockport's Road Safety Officer Brian Wilkinson said: ''We are throwing our support behind the launch of the new site which is an excellent way of getting the message across which hopefully will save lives.

''We will be distributing a promotional pack for schools throughout the region which have been developed by Magneto and use the website's Tommy cartoon character.''

Managing director of Magneto Interactive Rob Dwyer said: ''Every year more than 16,500 people are injured or killed in Manchester, which equates to 45 people every day.

''With an increasing number of people - both young and old - surfing the Internet, it is an ideal opportunity to reinforce the road safety message, in a fun and informative way.''

The government's ''Think!'' campaign is designed to encourage road users to think about safety on the road.

It attempts to educate motorists that even a small difference in driving speed could have a drastic effect on stopping distance.

The advertising campaign was launched in June and included a controversial slow-motion TV commercial showing a child being knocked down by a speeding car.