National Road Safety Week: National Walk Safely to School Day
Your child is never too old to be reminded about the importance of road safety. The 10th of May is National Walk Safely to School Day and we ask that you remind your child of the importance of not walking distracted.
As pedestrians, we become more vulnerable when stepping out from the kerb if our headspace is occupied with music and mobile phones. These devices limit hearing and reduce concentration and reaction times.
Safety tips for your child when they are a pedestrian include:
- Head up and phone down and take out your earphones
- Never cross the street while using an electronic device
- Never assume a vehicle will stop for you. Wait until it completely stops
- Where possible, cross at marked crossings or traffic lights
- Before you cross a road, think about whether a driver can see you; promote Stop, Look, Listen and Think message
- Never sacrificing safety for convenience
- Always waiting until the school bus has left before seeing if it is safe to cross the road
- Always walk on the sidewalk if one is available; if you must walk on the street, safely face oncoming traffic
Help your child to identify the safest places to cross the road when travelling to and from school. Teach your child to avoid any distractions that could compromise their safety as a pedestrian by modelling these behaviours. For more information go to Transport NSW On The Move.