Road Safety Week

November 21st – November 27th 2016 was Road Safety Week.

At school during the week the teachers and children discussed how to stay safe on the roads, whether walking, cycling or using a scooter.

Children talked about crossing roads safely and safe places to cross, being aware of the traffic around them and about being seen in the dark.

Some  children  were able to design bags with reflective materials so that they would be seen in the dark by passing motorists. They came up with some really good ideas, their bags were really bright and would clearly be visible in the dark!

Below are some tips about crossing the road safely with little ones. Talk through them with your child to emphasize the importance of keeping safe.

First find the safest place to cross:

• If possible, cross the road at: subways, footbridges, islands, zebra, puffin, pelican or toucan crossings, or where there is a crossing point controlled by a police officer, a school crossing patrol or a traffic warden.
• Otherwise, choose a place where you can see clearly in all directions, and where drivers can see you.
• Try to avoid crossing between parked cars and on sharp bends or close to the top of a hill. Move to a space where drivers and riders can see you clearly.
• There should be space to reach the pavement on the other side. 

Stop just before you get to the kerb:

• Do not get too close to the traffic. If there is no pavement, keep back from the edge of the road but make sure you can still see approaching traffic.
• Give yourself lots of time to have a good look all around.
• Look all around for traffic and listen.
• Look in every direction.
• iListen carefully because you can sometimes hear traffic before you can see it.
• If traffic is coming, let it pass
• Look all around again and listen.
• Do not cross until there is a safe gap in the traffic and you are certain that there is plenty of time.
• Remember, even if traffic is a long way off, it may be approaching very quickly.
• When it is safe, go straight across the road – do not run
• Keep looking and listening for traffic while you cross, in case there is any traffic you did not see or in case other traffic suddenly appears.
• Look out for cyclists and motorcyclists traveling between lanes of traffic. 
• Do not cross diagonally.

How you can help your child and other children

• Set a good example. Use the Green Cross Code yourself.
• Show your child how to use the Code to cross the road when you’re out and about.
• Let your child show you that they know how to cross the road safely – start practising on quiet roads first.
• Point out dangerous places to cross on local roads. Point out safer places as well. Some places may be safer at some times of the day than at others.
• Use pedestrian crossings even if it involves a small detour.
• Talk about the importance of not using a mobile phone or texting while crossing the road.
• Remind your child that they cannot hear traffic if listening to music through earphones or see it properly if wearing a large hood.