2 September 2008

Put Road Safety First On The School Run

Parent drivers are being reminded that they need to take extra care as children return from their summer holidays.
 
The Local Authority Road Safety Officers Association (LARSOA) is warning that the routes to, and the areas outside of, schools are likely to be congested with vulnerable road users and drivers need to take extra care on their commuter run. This includes parents dropping off and collecting their children ensuring that they keep not only their children, but all those others going to school, as safe as possible.
 
In 2006 over 3,000 (3,294) children were killed or seriously injured on the UK’s roads and LARSOA want parents and guardians to play a major role in reducing this number by offering some simple advice.  
 
Essential, easy tips for parents are included in Notes to Editors.

David Frost, Press & PR Officer, LARSOA, said:
“The first few weeks back at school can be particularly dangerous for children – especially those attending a school for the first time – as many of them will not be used to the traffic conditions on roads outside their new school.
 
“Drivers have an obvious responsibility, but parents who are dropping their children off at school should take particular care and not only be aware of what their own children are doing, but also where other children and pedestrians are in relation to their vehicle.”
 
Road Safety Officers routinely visit schools in their area to teach children about the importance of road safety, but LARSOA believes that parents also have a key role to play in teaching children how to be safe on the roads.
 
David added: “Parents have a responsibility to all children to make sure that they are aware of the potential dangers they face, not just outside schools, but on all of our roads.
 
“Parents are sometimes branded ‘selfish’, but often simply do not think about how their actions, or lack of them, can impact upon the safety of all children travelling to school. More importantly, children will copy the behaviour of parents, which will ultimately make them less safe as they get older.  We would like to remind them of some simple steps they can take to ensure no family has to suffer a tragedy on the roads.”
 
For further information please contact Peter Whelan Jnr on 01287 610404 or 07983 288 388
 
Notes to Editors:
 
Tips for parents:

• Park a short distance away from the school to keep the entrance as clear as possible for the safety of ALL children who are on their way to and from school;
• Walking a short distance to school allows children to learn about risk and danger, making them safer road users;
• If you must park near the school, observe and obey ‘School Keep Clear’ markings. They are there for safety reasons;
• Respect the School Crossing Patrol. Always use them with your children and always be prepared to stop to allow other children to cross. Using the Patrol helps to instil good safety behaviour;
• Ensure your child is wearing the appropriate seat restraint for the whole of the journey to and from school. Most child in-car casualties happen within a few minutes from home;
• Always get your children to exit the vehicle on the pavement side, not into the middle of the road where traffic will be passing;
• Ensure younger children are walking away from the edge of the pavement, so that you are between them and the traffic and hold hands whenever possible;
• Slow down near schools – be prepared for the unexpected from other children travelling to and from school.

Setting a good example will not only keep you and your child safe, but he or she will grow up being a much safer pedestrian, cyclist and driver.

ABOUT LARSOA

LARSOA is a national road safety organisation representing road safety officers (RSOs) employed in local government across the UK.

LARSOA represents 185 of the 200 eligible local authorities across the UK, assisting RSOs to fulfil their statutory role to reduce the number and severity of road casualties through education, training and publicity programmes.

LARSOA publishes an up-to-date round-up of road safety news from across the UK on its website www.larsoa.org.uk .

LARSOA also aims to influence national debate - government policy and action together with public opinion. The association works to achieve national recognition for road safety issues, commissions research into behaviour which contributes to road collisions and develops national road safety campaigns.

The association assists in identifying achievable national targets to reduce the number of collisions on the country's roads.