Last week, the police announced its annual safety campaign, which was launched ahead of the return to schools. The police have provided a number of useful tips for parents, children, and drivers to increase the level of safety for everyone.
Parents should take their time and walk the way to school together with their children several times ahead of the new year, so that they can advise them on potential dangers. They should always chose the quickest and safest way possible, and be careful to set an example with their behaviour. It is also helpful to make children wear safety vests or bright colours.
Parents should further be respectful of traffic rules when driving their children to school. One should also pay attention that kids always get out of a vehicle on the side of the road facing away from the traffic. When picking up children after school, parents should not station their cars across the road.
When cycling to school, helmets need to be worn at all times. Transportation trailers for children should further be equipped with safety flags, which makes them more visible to lorry and bus drivers.
Young children should stick close to buildings when walking on the pavement, while older and more experienced ones can walk next to the road.
Streets should only be crossed at designated spots. Kids are also advised to look left, right, and left again before crossing over. They should also keep an eye out for garage openings and stationed cars, which may block their vision.
Young children are not yet as aware of traffic dangers and may very well be nervous when returning to schools. Drivers are advised to be especially careful and respect speed limitations. Furthermore, every manoeuvre should be properly signalled ahead of time.
Attention also needs to be paid near bus stops and zebra crossings. Drivers should observe children on the pavement to better assess when they may have to hit the breaks.
It is also important to remember that children are not always able to properly assess the speed of an oncoming car and the danger of the respective situation.
