Street Smart
Road Safety: Staying Safe – SchoolsBack to school safety
Back to school safety tips for parents and carers
Safety around schools (PDF 482kB) has information for principals, parents and members of the school community. The guide was written with input from school community stakeholders and the agencies responsible for road safety around schools.
Drop-off and pick-up by car
Make sure your children are in an appropriate child restraint that is fitted and used correctly.
Stick to the 40km/h speed limit in a school zone as children are about and can be unpredictable.
Look out for buses pulling out – watch for wig-wag lights.
Always park and turn legally around schools and avoid dangerous manoeuvres like U-turns and three-point turns.
Always give way to pedestrians particularly when entering and leaving driveways.
Drop the kids off and pick them up on the school side of the road in your school’s designated drop-off and pick-up area. Calling out to them from across the road can be dangerous because they may run to you without checking traffic.
It’s safest for the kids to get out of the car on the kerb side of the road to be away from passing traffic.
Walking together to and from school
Plan your trip to school so you are using pedestrian crossing areas where possible.
Always hold your child’s hand up until the age of eight. Young children need your help to spot danger like vehicles coming out of driveways. They can also be easily distracted and wander into traffic.
Drop off and pick up your child near the school gate and avoid calling them from across the road. Talk to your children about Stop, Look, Listen and Think every time they cross the road:
- Stop one step back from the kerb
- Look for traffic to your right left and right again
- Listen for the sounds of approaching traffic
- Think whether it is safe to cross
Your child’s safety depends on you
Young children can learn these safe pedestrian habits from you and use them when they are old enough to travel alone.
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