As the long summer holidays draw to a close and the school run starts again we have some tips for drivers
Tips for Drivers:
- Plan ahead and be alert when driving to the school and take extra care to compensate for the fact that children won’t always be paying attention, and are easily distracted. For drivers, this can create dangerous situations on the roads. Be vigilant and alert behind the wheel. You never know when a small child might step out from between parked cars or off the pavement.
- Don’t double park; it is unsafe and unfair to other road users and blocks visibility for other children and vehicles.
- Ensure your child understands road safety and instruct them to move away from a car when the driver gets in or when the car is started and teach them that even though they can see the car and possibly even the driver it does not mean they can be seen.
- Be prepared for kids to appear in unexpected places. All too often children are hurt or die because drivers simply didn’t see them. From schools to residential driveways and quiet back streets always be aware that children are around.
- Always ensure your child is in the correct Car seat and that it is properly fitted.
Did you know?
- Until the age of about eight, it is difficult for children to assess whether a car is moving or not.
- The first thing a child will notice about a car approaching them is the colour not how fast it is travelling
- Children have no idea how long it takes for a car to stop and do not yet have the ability to estimate, they mistakenly assume that cars can stop instantly.
- A child’s field of vision is one-third narrower than an adult’s.
- Children have difficulty determining where sounds are coming from.
- It takes a car 13 metres to come to a complete stop when driving 30 km/h, but 27 metres – more than double that distance – when driving 50 km/h.
Geraldine Herbert
24th August, 2022
