As the holidays draw to a close, our children are heading back to school. Whether you have young or older children, it is a time of excitement, trepidation, enthusiasm and, for some, despair at the end of the long holidays – feelings often shared by parents too. One hope for our children we all have as they start the school year is that they will be safe.

Alongside ABCs & 123s, teaching your children road safety is as important. It is important that we, as adults, uphold road safety standards to make the road safe for all users, especially our children.

DRIVING SAFELY AROUND SCHOOL ZONES

Areas around schools will often become congested during drop-off and pick-up times. If you are not dropping children off at school, consider changing your route to minimise the impact on traffic.
If you are dropping off children, or your commute takes you through a school zone during peak times, here are some things to keep in mind:

● Do not drive more than 30km/h. Even if there is no signage indicating the speed limit, 30km/h should be your default speed when driving in a school zone. Children have impulsive and unpredictable behaviour. They may not have developed a good sense of road awareness. Slowing your driving allows you time to react should a child step in front of your vehicle.

● Do not use your mobile phone or play loud music while passing a school. Keep distractions few and awareness high.

● Children, especially the younger ones, are not easily visible due to their height. Primary school children are sometimes no taller than the bonnet of a car and thus are at risk of drivers not seeing them. Always take extra care to note the areas around your car when driving in a school zone. Be on the lookout for children walking or cycling to school, as well as crossing the road.

● If you encounter a crossing guard (aka “lollipop man/woman”) or scholar patrol, obey their signals and stop to let children cross the road. Be patient and avoid becoming frustrated. Hooting your vehicle may startle children which may cause them to step into traffic.

● During the first week of school, remember many young children are starting “Big School”. Parents might take longer to say goodbye to their children, who may be anxious and doubtful. Have patience with them – this is a big step into the next stage of life for many children (and their parents).

SAFETY FOR CHILDREN GETTING TO SCHOOL BY CAR

If you are dropping your kids off at school yourself, it is a good opportunity to reinforce some important road safety rules.

● Always buckle up! This is rule number one. This rule applies to the driver as well as the child passengers. Children learn by example. It is our role as parents and caregivers to be a good example for them. Make use of seatbelts, car seats and harnesses on every journey, no matter how short or familiar the route.

● Car seats are mandatory up until the age of 3. Beyond this, car seats are the safest option for your child in a vehicle up until your child reaches age 10. Seat belts are designed around adult bodies and sizes, therefore a car seat is that much better at restraining a child. Your child’s car seat must be suitable for their age, height, weight and developmental stage. You can find more information on which is the right car seat for your child here.

● A factor you may have to contend with is your child becoming embarrassed about using a car seat. Unfortunately, we have little control over the safety standards set by other parents. Starting school leads to some children wanting to set themselves apart from “babies” and prove they are “big” now. This results in the rejection of anything that they perceive as being “for babies”. There may be teasing of children who are still making use of those things – car seats included.
We have spoken in the past about how to engage your child in learning how to be safe in a vehicle and on the road, including why it is important to use a car seat. If they are beginning to feel a sense of shame associated with their car seat, a better approach for older children is to teach them that “big kids make responsible choices”. This will give them a sense of empowerment in that they are not using a car seat because they are a “little kid”, but because it is the responsible and safe thing to do. And big kids do responsible things, even if they don’t like it and even if their friends do otherwise.

● Carpooling is a good way to lessen congested traffic in school zones. It is important to discuss with all parents involved the safety standards to maintain in their vehicles. Everyone should be on the same page. Each child should at the very least have access to a seat belt. A Secure-A-Kid Safety Harness is a worthwhile investment, as it is easy to use, attaches to most seat belts and is easily packed away in a school bag. This makes it an excellent choice for carpool groups.

● Always have your children climb out of the car on the pavement side of your vehicle. If this is not possible, always look for oncoming vehicles before opening the car door and assist them with getting to the pavement. Have them go quickly and directly to the schoolyard away from the drop-off zone.

● Plan where they should wait at the pick-up zone after school that is away from traffic.

SCHOOL BUS & MINIBUS SAFETY

Public transport has its pitfalls when it comes to road safety, leaving a lot of room for improvement. For many families, it is the only viable option available. There are a few things families can do to improve the safety of the experience for their children:

● It is best to try and make use of a transport company that only carries students or is hired by the school. These companies are more likely to have the safety of children in mind. If this is not an option for your child, have an adult travel with them or else watch that they make use of a bus or minibus that is safe for their journey.

● Never leave children alone at a bus stop. An adult must wait with them until they board.

● Children should not wander away from the bus stop. Not only do they risk missing their transport, but they might find themselves in dangerous situations.

● Teach your children that they should always stand 3 metres away from a bus until instructed to board. Buses have many blind spots and can also obstruct the view of children for other drivers on the road. Due to the height of a bus, a driver is also unable to see directly in front or behind the bus – never stand in these areas!

● Children must remain seated for the duration of their journey. They should only leave their seats to disembark when the driver says it is safe to do so.

WALKING & CYCLING TO SCHOOL

If you live close to your child’s school, cycling or walking may be an option for them. It can be a great source of exercise and outside enrichment as part of their day. Be informed about the safety of this option in your area before considering this option.

● Children who are walking or cycling must wear high-visibility clothing. Drivers may not see child pedestrians and cyclists, especially in low-light conditions. High-visibility reflective clothing – a vest or beanie, for example – will make them more noticeable. This allows drivers to safely navigate and anticipate their movements.

● Cyclists must wear helmets at all times during their journey. This is a requirement by law but also reduces the risk of death and serious injury. A cycling helmet must be the appropriate size. Straps should be secure and snug, not allowing the helmet to shift.

● Children walking to school should stay on the pavement away from traffic – never walk on the road. Cyclists should stay as close to the pavement as possible and make use of a cycling lane if one is available.

● If other children in your neighbourhood also walk or cycle to school, arrange with their parents for them to journey together. Children are safer in a group than walking or cycling alone.

● It is very important to teach child pedestrians and cyclists how to cross roads. They must look right and left before crossing and never cross on a blind corner where they cannot see an oncoming vehicle. Show them where they can make use of pedestrian crossings on their route.

● Stress to your child that they must walk or cycle directly to and from school without any detours. Have them be home by a certain time so that you can be sure that they are safe.

● For cyclists, find out where the school’s designated bike racks are. Teach them how to use a bike lock to keep their bicycle from being stolen.

GENERAL SAFETY TIPS

● Have children carry “In Case of Emergency” details on them, especially if taking public transport/walking/cycling. Do not put their name in these details which can be used by strangers and traffickers to lure them away from safety.

● Teach your children not to talk to strangers or get into unfamiliar cars.

● Talk to your children about road safety rules and reinforce them. Consistent repetition is key!

● Don’t let children wear headphones/use cellphones while travelling to/from school. These can be a distraction that can cause them to step in front of vehicles or wander off from a safe area.

● Organise with the school or PTA to have a Parent or Student Patrol around the school during peak times to help children cross the roads.

Let’s keep our learners safe this year, starting with road safety. Wheel Well provides school talks on road safety for students at primary school and high school levels. If you would be interested in having us visit your child’s school, speak to the school’s organising committee or get in touch with us. The safety of all children on our roads is our #1 goal!