Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Driving home a vital message
Set a good example when you’re behind wheel
A new book has been unveiled as part of a nationwide road safety initiative encouraging Monklands parents to adopt more positive behaviours behind the wheel when driving with children.
Z i g g y ’s Sports Day, commissioned by The Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland ( part of Transport Scotland), will be distributed through all Primary One classrooms throughout North Lanarkshire and addresses parental behaviour in the car and the impact this can have on a child.
As research shows, youngsters can adopt poor driving habits long before getting behind the wheel based on what they see others doing, the book aims to help parents and carers realise how their children can be influenced by their actions in the car.
Written by children’s author Lynda Kennedy and illustrated by Lynn Taylor, the story features a character called Ziggy who has recently landed on earth and needs help navigating the planet’s road systems.
This is the latest addition to the existing Ziggy road safety resource.
Michael McDonnell, director of Road Safety Scotland, said: “Go Safe with Ziggy is a fun and interactive platform we have developed which exposes children to road safety skills in the classroom and at home from a young age.
“It is widely recognised amongst behavioural psychologists that early experiences shape children’s future behaviour.
“This is why we need to ensure road safety skills are taught from a young age, and it’s important for parents to play a role in moulding their children’s attitude to using our roads.”