Walk Safely to School Day

This fantastic event is run by the Pedestrian Council of Australia. Ask your school if they participate in this yearly event.

Walking to school regularly is beneficial to children's health and wellbeing. It helps them to be more physically active, independent and confident. It also helps to reduce traffic problems around schools and teaches children about road safety. Talk to your child about walking to school and how to cross the road safely by identifying and choosing the safest places to cross the road on their way to and from school. It is also important to talk about the dangers of wearing headphones and listening to loud music when on pathways and crossing roads.

Safety tips:

• Take 5 - Stop, look, listen for traffic and think before walk ing across a road.
• Keep left on pathways and be mindful of others.
• Be visible, wear a bright coloured hat or bag.
• Check for cars before crossing driveways.
• Never walk through parked cars to cross a road.
• Always cross roads at pedestrian crossings or at traffic lights where possible.
• Wait for the green walk signal to light up before crossing roads.

Teach your child these 5 steps to improve their road safety skills:

• Stop one step back from the footpath or shoulder of the road if there is no footpath.
• Look in all directions for approaching traffic.
• Listen in all directions for approaching traffic.
• Think about whether it is safe to cross the road - when the road is clear or all traffic has stopped.
• Walk straight across the road don't run. Keep LOOKING and LISTENING for traffic while crossing.

More information

For more information on National Walk to School Day please visit: www.walk.com.au.

For more information on sustainable travel please email [email protected].

Peter Bettess from Buderim Lions Club, Mayor Mark Jamieson and student Sam walked to Buderim Mountain State School for Walk Safely to School Day 2019.