Jamaica Gleaner

ROAD SAFETY FOR KIDS 13 rules your kids should know

- Taken from https://www.hseblog. com

WHILE IT is essential for children to know about road safety rules and regulation­s, they should not be given more informatio­n than they can handle. Here are a few basic road safety rules for kids that you can begin with.

1. KNOW YOUR SIGNALS

Help your kid learn about the traffic lights and signs and what each colour indicates.

• Green means ‘go’: Vehicles move ahead only when the signal turns ‘green’.

• Red means to ‘stop’: When the signal turns red, all vehicles must stop.

• Yellow means to slow down: When the signal turns yellow, vehicles should slow down and prepare to stop.

• The ‘Walk’ or a walking man symbol at intersecti­ons is for pedestrian­s. Cross the road only if these signs turn green. But look to the left and right to ensure no vehicles are approachin­g.

• Never cross the road if the sign says ‘Don’t Walk’ or the walking man symbol turns red.

Sometimes a hand symbol is used instead of the walking man or ‘Walk’ signals. Tell your kid about that too. If there are other symbols for pedestrian­s, you should make it a point to let them know. Gradually, teach your children about the other essential traffic signals they should know.

2. STOP, LOOK, AND CROSS

Your child may have to walk back to school or the bus stop. They may only have to cross the street after the school bus drops them off. Even if they don’t, they may have to cross the street to get to a friend’s house or a neighbour’s. Whatever the case is, you should teach your kids to cross the road safely. Here’s how you can help them learn.

Always look for signals and use the pedestrian crossing to cross the road. In the absence of such markings, here is what you should do:

• Look to your right and then to the left to see if there are any approachin­g vehicles.

• If yes, wait for the vehicle to pass and then cross the road.

• Never cross at bends.

• Never cross between stationary vehicles.

Adults should always accompany children under six and hold their hand when crossing the street.

3. PAY ATTENTION – LISTEN

Teach your kids that they may not always be able to see an oncoming vehicle, especially if they are standing near a bend. Therefore, they should listen to know if a vehicle is approachin­g. Cars and other vehicles on the road often use the ‘ horn’ at bends and unmanned intersecti­ons to indicate that they are nearing. Tell your children:

• If they hear a horn, stop and look to the left and right to see if any vehicle is approachin­g.

• Listen for engine sounds nearby to know if there is a moving vehicle – explain how a loud noise indicates the vehicle is nearby, and a faint sound means it is away.

4. DON’T RUN ON ROADS

Children may not always have patience and may run across the street to get to the other side. They may also run along the road in your neighbourh­ood while playing. Tell your kids never to run across or along the road. Children can get distracted easily and leave their guardian’s hands to run or sprint away.

Teach your kids to stay calm on the road and never to run or sprint.

5. ALWAYS USE SIDEWALKS

Teach your kids to use the sidewalk when walking on the road. Set an example for them by using the walking paths yourself. Whether it is a busy street or not, encourage your kid to use the sidewalk to stay safe on the road.

6. CROSSROADS AND PEDESTRIAN CROSSING

Kids tend to sprint across the street, anywhere they like. That can be dangerous as passing vehicles do not slow unless there is a signal or a crossroad. Tell your kids to cross only at an intersecti­on and use the pedestrian crossing. If they are in a small neighbourh­ood with no crossroad or marked crossing, they should follow the rules mentioned above.

Lessons on pedestrian safety for kids are important and should also be included in the school curriculum.

7. NEVER STICK HANDS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE

Kids tend to put their hands out of the school bus even when it is moving. Some may even put their head out to look back and wave. This is common with students taking the school bus. It may seem fun, but sticking hands or head out of a moving vehicle can be highly dangerous. If children are not careful, they could be hit by vehicles approachin­g from the opposite direction.

8. NEVER CROSS ROAD AT BENDS

Bends are the blind spots for motorists. When you cross at a bend, you do not give the vehicle drivers enough time to spot you and stop the car. Tell your kid never to cross at a bend, which can increase their chances of getting hurt.

9. STAYING SAFE ON A BICYCLE

If you have an older kid who rides his bicycle around the neighbourh­ood, make sure he is aware of and follows the following cycling rules to stay safe on the road.

• Always wear a helmet when riding a bike.

• Check if the bicycle is in working condition before using it – check for breaks and light if using it at night.

• Always use the bicycle lane. In its absence, ride the bike on the extreme right or left side (whichever is right in your country) of the road and move along with traffic. Keep your eyes and ears open to make way for more extensive and faster vehicles behind you.

• Always use light in areas with poor visibility and at night to be easily noticed by motorists.

• Do not allow kids to ride a cycle on busy streets without parental supervisio­n.

10. STAYING SAFE INSIDE A MOVING VEHICLE

In a moving car, you can ensure your kid is safe with the help of a car seat or seat belt. To see that they are safe in a moving vehicle without you, make sure they learn and follow these simple rules:

• Never stand inside a moving vehicle, especially a school bus or van.

• Students should not move around inside a moving school bus.

• Stay seated and hold on to the hard rail inside the bus for support until the vehicle comes to a stop.

• Do not put any part of the body outside the window of a moving vehicle.

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