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How to teach your child road
safety
For
parents |
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| WALK TO
SCHOOL |
Walk to School Week is on its way
(May and October).
The walk to school campaign encourages children and parents to leave the car at
home and walk to school.
It is promoted by the Pedestrians Association.. |
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| Well, I never knew
that! |
Campaigns by the Pedestrians
Association in the 1920s persuaded the Government to introduce the
driving test, the 30mph urban speed limit and pedestrian crossings.
The Association also helped write the very first Highway Code. |
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| THINK! |
| Produced by the Dept of the
Environment (which now includes Transport and the Regions in its remit),
whether you are thinking bike, car or pedestrian, this site will bring you up
to date with the latest news on government campaigns and has some very useful
road safety links. |
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| ROSPA |
Royal Society for the Prevention
of Accidents
on Road
safety |
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| Roadpeace |
| provides emotional and practical
support to bereaved and injured road traffic victims |
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The Challenge of ...
Keeping 'em Safe
on the road
Click here to view all the recent government
Child
safety campaigns and related leaflets. Downloadable posters, screensavers
and a free
activity
book in pdf format.
Whilst newspaper headlines stir up our fears of being killed by plane
crashes, superbugs or terrorist bombs, our daily journeys to school and work
are far more life threatening, with nearly 3,000 people killed on the roads
worldwide each day! |
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Road safety : Belt up! |
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Children don't always like being strapped into a seat but it's essential for
safety - as well as the driver's responsibility in law. But how do you make
sure your child stays strapped in?
I always thought my son was a law unto himself but one day it dawned on me that
the things I really, really, really thought were important were actually as
sacrosanct to him as they were to me!!
Psychologist Haim Ginot introduced a useful set of guidelines for parents. He
encouraged parents to think about children's behaviour according to 3 zones: -
a green zone, a yellow zone and a red zone. The red zone is for behaviours
which will not be tolerated under any circumstances - those that are unsafe,
illegal, unethical or immoral - and that includes road safety.
So when safety issues come up, I make sure I'm clear about what I
believe is needed and somehow that clarity and conviction just seems to get
the message across. To the extent that I have seen him, aged 2, putting the
safety locks BACK on the cupboards!!
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Still having difficulties?
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I explained 'belting up' to my two-year old as one of the rules that the 'whole
world' keeps to. And he seemed to understand this concept. Slightly older
children will enjoy the ruder connotations of telling someone to 'belt up' so
you might get there with a bit of humour!
Even when parents have no impact, small children are usually influenced by
authority figures outside the home, so mentioning the fact that a policeman
would come and tell you off if they see you not wearing one has a useful
impact. (It is in fact a breach of the law and YOU are breaking it if any
passenger is without a seat belt. See
Rospa's
factsheet for more information)
Finally, just be serious and mean it. If you mean it - really mean it -
children know. If you are not convinced that it really matters then they'll
pick that up. Well, does it matter to you or doesn't it?!?
If you're old enough to remember Jimmy Saville's Clunk Click Every
Trip campaign, then you'll know it does matter. Try using that old
advertising campaign - the kids might just enjoy using it as a mantra with you
until they have been conditioned to do it.
All together now...
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Please help your children remember the rule - always keep your seat belt
buckled - and save a life.
Here's an article from
NetDoctor about safety in the car which includes links to
other articles on children and safety.
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| SAFETY ON THE
ROAD |
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| The first national
child car
seat Campaign was launched in February this year. |
|
 |
| This link will take you to a
selection of top quality car seats - NEVER buy second-hand child car seats as
it could have been damaged in a previous prang and be totally ineffective when
you need it most. |
|
Travelling with baby
Tips from mothercare. |
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| ROAD CODE |
| A website designed for the younger
road users, which tests road safety knowledge with quizzes about road signs,
and how to stay safe as you cycle around town |
Highway
Code
Special version for 8-11 year olds |
|
Brake
Road Safety Week |
31 March to 6 April 2001
|
Aims to raise awareness and
promote safer road use by drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.
Brake is a non-profit making organisation that produces
advice on road safety and provides support for victims of road accidents. Not a
wonderful website but has some basic information. |
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| YOUNG DRIVERS |
| The PassPlus website is for young drivers.
You can get cheaper insurance if you take the PassPlus test. |
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| See our section on road safety and
TEENS |
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