New safe walking for children

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 8, Issue 370, 22 January 1991, Page 6

New safe walking for children

A new programme to teach junior primary school children pedestrian safety has been developed by two members of the road user standards section of the Ministry of Transport.

Bill Crook and Michael Cummins say that their Safe Walking programme introduces a national standard for pedestrian safety for children aged five to eight, and they feel the kit should be part of every school's curriculum. They believe education is the key to reducing road deaths and injuries, and estimate that over 500 junior primary school children are injured on the roads every year. The Safe Walking programme is made up of 11 specific skill sheets which fall under three main headings: Crossing by ourselves, walking near traffic, and walking in the country. Each skill sheet is accompanied by colour starter pictures, a photocopy master with cartoons suitable for a language activity, suggested letters to parents and skills checklists. There is also a short video clip on each specific skill. The teacher is able to base the programme on the needs of the

children, depending on age group and the local environment. The programme also contains a pedestrian licence, which is designed as an incentive and reward for the child and as a teaching guideline for the child's parent or caregiver. Mr Crook has been using the licensing system with schools in West Auckland, and he said many parents taking part in the exercise comment on how little young children know about coping with traffic. The programme suggests that the school plan a route where the children can test their road skills. Each hazard is manned by a parent who may have to prompt each child as they complete the exercise. Each child is given a number and sent off individually to complete the course. Notes on their progress are taken, with comments if the child needs prompting. At the completion of the course the child receives the licence. __

The licence has a checklist designed to show parents if the child has acted appropriately, needs further testing or has not been tested in a certain skill. The parent is then encouraged to reinforce and develop their child's road safety skills. The programme aims to assist in making parents and teachers more aware of the problems encountered by children when walking near traffic. Mr Crook says many teachers are surprised at the video clip on walking in a car park which shows the cars from a child's height. It also aims to allow each child to demonstrate, free from peer pressure, a new-found skill and confidence, and to i'nform parents how competent their child is in traffic. The programme also has a section aimed at children with special needs.