As a parent you have a responsibility to ensure that your child learns about road safety.
Parents need to be pro-active in stressing the importance of safety and diligent in ensuring safe behaviours are practiced. How parents behave has a huge influence on helping their child to be safe and act responsibly when out and about on the streets and roads, either as a pedestrian or when using a bicycle or other wheeled toy (in-line skates, skateboard, billy-cart etc).
One of the first thing parents need consider is their child’s development and to recognise just where your child is at. The child’s developmental level greatly determines what they can and cannot do safely.
It is not fair to punish the child for an “unsafe behaviour”, when the child is not developmentally ready to practise that behaviour themself. For example, it is not appropriate to punish a young child (not of an age to understand or perceive the danger of the situation) who runs on the road in front of an oncoming car when in fact the parent has not been holding their hand.
We know that children learn most by watching how other people act. One important aspect over which you have most control is to practise safety at all times when using the road, whether a pedestrian, passenger, cyclist or driver. This not only models good behaviours but help children develop attitudes that may make them safer road users later in life.
Parents need to ensure that children get into the habit of always using seatbelts when travelling by car. Make it a rule with no exceptions that seatbelts are fastened before the car moves. From a very early age children parents should also be constantly insisting that their child embark and disembark from a vehicle using the kerb-side door, away from the traffic so that this too becomes a habit.
Children need to learn to be safe as a passenger on and around public transport. Often seen as a fun activity by children, using public transport safely is a necessary skill particularly when kids move on to secondary school. A good introduction is to take the littlies on excursions like a train trip or bus ride to the zoo or the beach. Use this opportunity to introduce safe practices like using the marked railway crossings and waiting behind the yellow line on the platform. Also, teach them that you must never cross the road immediately in front of or behind a bus.
It is essential that children learn to cross roads safely and use pedestrian crossings when they are available. When out on the street, children up to the age of 10 should be with an adult as they have not yet developed the physical or perceptual skills to keep safe when dealing with traffic. Subsequently, when walking on the street or crossing roads, parents should always hold hands with younger children. Walking with the child and talking about what is happening and what could happen helps children recognise potential dangers when they are old enough and developmentally ready to be by themselves. Explore the local area with your child to find the safest routes to schools or recreational activities and explain why these routes are the safest.
When it comes to cycling, helmets and other protective gear are important. Bikes should be the right size, adjusted to suit the child and kept well maintained. Always ensure your child wears something brightly-coloured when cycling and find somewhere safe for your child to learn the necessary skills. Parks, bike paths and shared footways are ideal places to learn away from traffic. As a general rule, children up to the age of 10 should not ride a bicycle on roads in traffic without adult supervision. Children under the age of 12 are permitted to cycle on the footpath and this safer option should be practiced wherever possible.
The most important message is that you set a good example, insist on safe practices and remain alert to opportunities for your children to learn, practise and master the various skills needed for them to stay safe on the street.
The above information is made available to schoolchildren through the Street Scene Program of the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria.
For a complete list of Regional Parenting Service articles go to the City of Greater Geelong website www.geelongaustralia.com.au/community/family/services/article/8cbc84b53070368.aspx