With the new school year starting for thousands of students next week the Parkes Shire Council is reminding drivers and parents about children’s safety around schools. The Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor said road crashes accounted for over half of all accidental deaths among children aged 5 – 14 years old.
“Children are vulnerable road users, and drivers need to pay extra attention and be patient with schools reopening.” “It is important that drivers slow down to 40km/h in school zones so they are in a better position to react to the unpredictable behaviour of children as well as the busy traffic environment.”
Melanie reminds drivers that when the orange (wig wag) lights on the back of a bus are flashing, you must slow down to 40km/h, as students are either getting on or off the school bus. Police will be targeting school zones to ensure drivers obey the 40km/h speed limit around all schools in NSW between 8 – 9.30am and 2.30 – 4pm on school days.
Other points to remember:
• Always make sure your children wear a seatbelt or use a child restraint.
• Always drop-off and pick-up your children on the school side of the road.
• Make sure children use the footpath-side door when getting in and out.
• Never call your children across the road to you.
• Use a pedestrian crossing where possible and avoid being distracted by friends, mobile phones or listening to music through headphones whilst walking.
• Children up to 10 years old should always be supervised when near traffic.
• Children up to eight years old should always hold an adult’s hand when crossing the road or walking near traffic.
