VISITORS to the Devon County Show (May 21-23) will be invited to take the Country Mile challenge.

VISITORS to the Devon County Show (21-23 May) will be invited to take the Country Mile challenge.

A giant Scalextric track may be an unusual way to promote road safety but it is part of the display at the Devon Drivers' Centre by the Devon Country Mile project, which is working to improve safety on rural roads.

The track will reflect the A361 to get drivers to think about travelling at a safe speed, with the offer of a �50 car hamper (which includes a first aid kit, warning triangle and other goodies) up for grabs for the winner of the challenge.

There will also be a chance to get a preview glimpse of a customised VW Transporter truck which has undergone a "Pimp My Ride" transformation to be converted from an ordinary white van into an educational vehicle. The truck is aimed at younger drivers and has been kitted out with a widescreen TV for road safety presentations, a Nintendo Wii games console and sound system.

The team will also be promoting business driver training, motorcycle safety, young drivers' safety and general road safety tips.

The Devon Country Mile is a partnership exploring rural road safety, specifically in the area between Exeter and Barnstaple, bordered by the A361, the A377 and the A396. The partnership is made up of Devon County Council, Devon and Cornwall Police, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, the Devon and Cornwall Safety Camera Partnership, Devon Primary Care Trust and South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

The project is supported by the Department for Transport and Devon County Council is one of just four Beacon authorities across Britain to have received a �1.5million Department for Transport grant to explore rural road safety.