Children are the most vulnerable road users and could easily be at risk of serious road accidents and injuries, without proper adult supervision. No matter how sensible they are, children under ten years old should never be allowed on roads unsupervised. With school holidays on the horizon there’s never been a better time to teach your little ones about road safety and it’s never too soon to start.
Know the rules
As children grow up and become more aware of their environment, they also begin to learn about road safety. Things like learning to cross the road and recognising traffic signals are important and they’re never too young to start learning. Remember children follow your lead, so make sure you set a good example.
With little ones the first lesson is learning to cross the road. The old saying “stop, look listen” still makes very good sense. Teaching your child to always stop at the kerb, carefully look both ways and only cross if they can see the way is clear. This simple practice could save a life!
When they get a little older
Things get a little trickier when children are old enough to ride a bicycle or scooter, because they can race ahead of you. This is when it’s so important that they know basic road rules and to know when an adult says “STOP” they have to! It doesn’t matter if it’s a parent, a lollypop person or a traffic controller – stop means stop because there is danger ahead.
Road safety is everyone’s business
Be ready for the school holidays and everyday life by making sure that your children know the rules. Some Local Government Authorities, Schools and Community Groups run road safety classes for children – check out the NSW Road Safety website for tips about children and road safety.
When you need professional help
WARP is a company that provides professional road traffic management services in NSW. Whether it’s for a one-day event, a major construction project or a professional response to an emergency situation. WARP staff are all accredited with valuable hands on experience. They are available 24 hours a day – 7 days a week – 365 days a year and ready to respond to your traffic management enquiry. Call them today on 1300 131 204 find out about Traffic Management Planning, Traffic Controllers and our Emergency Response Service.
