Road Safety Tips
Here’s some user-friendly road safety information to put across to the school community. Just place one of the numbered sections below, under a ‘Safe Routes To School’ style heading, in the school newsletter each week - ten sections for ten weeks supply. You can renumber them/use them in any order you wish.
1. Children - What to Remember
- They have trouble judging speed and where sounds are coming from.
- They lack peripheral vision, are small and hard to see. Slow Down.
- They tend to think about one thing at a time, and have trouble stopping in time.
- Traffic crashes are the biggest killer of school age children. Take Care.
2. Driving to School:
- Drop children off earlier rather than later – it eases congestion and gives kids time to play and exercise before school.
- Many car trips to school are less than one kilometre long - why not demonstrate safe behaviour and walk your child to school.
3. Parking Near School:
- Park safely and walk to the school gate to pick up or deliver your child. Never call to your child across the road.
- Never double park outside school or stop on the no parking areas – help create smooth traffic flow and to keep children out of the way of cars.
- Have the children use the door on the footpath side - it keeps them away from the traffic.
- On wet days, use your lights, bring an umbrella and be prepared to walk further than usual.
4. Role Modelling:
- Children will copy your example. Where provided, use the school crossing point or traffic signals rather than crossing anywhere.
- Get your children to learn better at school, and learn to exercise early in life, by walking to school.
5. Child Pedestrians:
- Make sure children walking to school get to school on time - so they can cross busy intersections when everyone else does.
- Be prepared to stop for children at any time, even if you have the right of way.
6. Cyclists are More Vulnerable:
- Cyclists are more vulnerable than motorists are - drivers have the major responsibility to take care.
- Cyclists turning right are exposed - and need extra consideration from motorists.
7. The Police Recommend:
- The Police recommend that children under 10 years of age should be accompanied when cycling to school – it’s a great way to teach them safe cycling as well.
- Get your kids to wear bright clothing when cycling – and the helmet’s got to fit!
8. Intersections:
- Make sure you can turn safely through busy intersections before you enter it – and before another car or bicycle comes along.
- At an uncontrolled intersection, if you are turning right then you must give way to all right turning vehicles and cyclists coming from your right.
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