If you live within walking distance of your child’s school, encouraging this healthy habit is an excellent way to instil lifelong fitness routines and set a positive example as a parent.
If your child is walking to school for the first time this upcoming school year — whether accompanied or alone — the Free Press has compiled essential safety tips to ensure their wellbeing on this milestone journey.
Children aged 11 and under require adult supervision when walking to school to safely navigate roads, car parks and driveways, protecting them from potential traffic hazards.
It is important to instil crucial road safety habits in your child: always use designated crossings, and teach them to stop, look and listen carefully for traffic before assessing whether it's safe to cross.
When you think your child is old enough to walk to school on their own, ensure they are also ready to navigate roads safely by making sure they understand:
- Safest route to school — this ensures you also know how much time it will take them to get to school and where they will be when commuting alone.
- Safest part of the road to cross at — teach them that a traffic light is always the safest plan of action, and green means go.
- Road rules — even if it will be a few years until they are on the road themselves, understanding road rules teaches them conditions often change and drivers can do unexpected things
- Stop, look and listen before crossing roads — teach them to identify how fast cars are going and the distance they are in relation to them.
- Walk with a friend when possible — not only is it a great way for them to chat with their friends before school begins, but it acts as an extra safety net.
Campaspe Shire Council employs a team of 22 crossing supervisors, often called ‘lollipop people’ due to their round stop signs, stationed at school crossings to assist children before and after school hours.
They are there to help children across the road during school traffic, but also as a reminder to drivers commuting around school areas to keep to a 40km/h speed limit.
The council strongly urges drivers to strictly adhere to reduced speed limits around schools, allowing crucial extra reaction time to account for children’s unpredictable and often distracted behaviour.
Council has a few tips for drivers to ensure the safety of every child walking to school, such as avoiding distractions like using your phone and parking legally around crossing and driveways.
Furthermore, it’s crucial to avoid dangerous manoeuvres such as illegal U-turns and to strictly obey speed limits and traffic signs.
Remember, every kilometre over the limit significantly increases accident risk, so adhering to road rules is essential for the safety of all road users, especially our children.
For more information on how to stay safe walking to school, visit vic.gov.au/travelling-school
