Children are motorists in the making so they’re never too young to start learning the rules of the road. Whether they’re on two wheels or two feet, here’s how to keep your kids safe on OUR roads. By Needra D’Souza.
According to Kidsafe NSW, kids need assistance on how to appropriately manage traffic until the age of 10. Before that, they are not physically or developmentally mature enough to make vital decisions to keep themselves safe. Their size also makes them vulnerable. They may say they can look after themselves but may not fully understand the dangers and risks involved, such as judging the speed or distance of oncoming cars and where traffic sounds are coming from.
Kids are also unpredictable and may forget to look for cars, so . Walk down the street with them so they can practise and gain experience on how to approach traffic. Talk with them about why you are stopping and what you are looking and listening for, and explain where it is safer to cross and why. Always make sure you closely supervise them in all road environments (see box) and hold their hand when crossing the road until they are at least 10 years old. If your hands are full, make sure they hold onto the trolley, pram, your bag, even your arm or sleeve. And remember kids are always watching so set a good example.
Motorists should always watch for kids in all road environments particularly in residential areas and carparks (see box).
For more details call Kidsafe NSW on 9845 0890 or visit www.kidsafensw.org.
Properly equipping your car with appropriate child restraints and ensuring older kids are securely buckled up goes without saying. Crash statistics show that the rear seat is the safest for any occupant, so ensure your children sit in the back. Also, it’s never too early to start teaching them driving tips.
On your next car trip, point out the rules of the road as you drive and explain the observations and choices you make to get to your destination safely. And always ensure you demonstrate responsible and safe behaviours when driving (like not talking on a mobile phone). Also, never leave your child alone in a vehicle as the temperature within cars can build up quickly and leave your child at risk of dehydration, which can cause serious harm.
The statistics speak for themselves. More than one third of pedestrians aged under six years killed in motor vehicle crashes were killed offroad in yards, carparks and driveways, while children under three years are the most likely to be killed or injured in home driveways.
Small children can be impossible to see from inside a car, especially if they are immediately behind it. They are also naturally inquisitive and can move quickly. In addition, a number of popular cars have shown to have a large ‘blind space’ behind them. (For more information visit www.nrma.com.au/reversing and www.maa.nsw.gov.au — go to ‘Injury prevention’, ‘Child injury prevention’ then ‘Driveway safety’.) Even if your car has parking sensors or a video camera, you may not notice a small child until it is too late to stop. To ensure this never happens:
As a kid some of the best times are had on a bike — or other ‘wheels’ — so it is important that they learn to use them safely. Each year many children sustain injuries associated with falls or collisions, often hurting vulnerable body parts such as the head, wrists, elbows and knees. NRMA has teamed up with Kidsafe NSW to help keep our kids on wheels safe. Children need to be able to control their wheels properly, and most importantly learn how to stop and steer. It’s also important that they learn to use their wheels in a safe environment, ie. not on uneven surfaces, slopes or near other users. It’s advised that kids on wheels be accompanied by an adult until they are nine or 10.
Tricycles: When buying a tricycle make sure it is the right size for the child and it is stable. Your child’s feet should be able to touch the ground when they are seated. Give your child a safe area to use the tricycle — somewhere away from slopes, stairs and uneven surfaces.
Bicycles: Around 85% of bike injuries occur when a child loses control of the bike, so the right size is important. As with tricycles kids should be able to touch the ground with both feet while seated. Make sure the bike has brakes, lights, reflectors, bells and visibility devices (ie. reflective tape and flags).
Skateboards and rollerblades: The most common injuries result from falls, although there have been injuries and deaths associated with running into vehicles and pedestrians. The rollerblades need to be comfortable and firmly fit your child’s feet.
Micro-scooters: These are fairly new devices. Of those injured,
66% are under 14 years. The majority of injuries occur from falls, but there have been reports of collisions with vehicles and pedestrians. When buying a micro-scooter watch out for
unsafe construction, with sharp objects and finger-tightened mechanisms.
Look at the brakes, as they can be inadequate for the speeds generated, while small wheels can make the scooter very unstable.
Whenever you buy a bicycle or other wheels for your child, always buy the correct safety gear to go with it — buy the whole present, not just part of it.
Helmets: A young child’s skull is soft and easily injured from a collision or fall so wearing a correctly fitted and Australian Standards approved helmet is a must. If young children wear helmets from the moment they start riding, they are more likely to continue to wear them as they get older. Studies on cyclists show that a helmet reduces the risk of brain injury by around 90%. But to work, a helmet has to fit well. Put the helmet on the child and then push gently with the heel of the hand against the front of the helmet. If it easily moves around then it doesn’t fit.
Knee and elbow guards: These are important for skateboarders, rollerbladers and scooter riders as they protect vulnerable points that research has shown are common points of contact in falls.
Wrist guards: These are designed to strengthen the wrist area so that when a child falls and puts their hand out to break the fall they are less likely to damage or break a wrist. Wrist injuries are common for skateboard, rollerblade, scooter and micro-scooter riders.
Visibility: Make sure the child does not ride in poor light or near traffic. Increase visibility with bright coloured clothing, reflective tape, reflectors and visibility flags.
Have fun, stay fit and enjoy nature. NSW hosts some great bike rides for people of all ages:
For details about other bike rides in NSW visit www.shirelife.com/pushon/porc_index.html.
It only takes one moving car to present a danger so supervise your kids at:
CARES (Community and Road Education Scheme) run fun courses for young bike riders in conjunction with local councils, RTA and NSW Police. The course teaches kids road rules when they’re on their bikes and important safety skills. It is available to schools and community groups.
The Open Road spoke to Karl and Jake (left), both aged 12, about the course which was organised through their school.
TOR: What did you do on the course?
Jake: There were lots of lines and cones and we had to ride around them. If you skidded, they gave you a wire brush and you had to clean the skid marks off the road.
Karl: It was like a mini road course and it was all miniature, even the traffic lights.
TOR: Did they score you?
Jake: You started with five demerit points and you lost points for skidding, not stopping at the red lights, going through a roundabout or getting ‘air’ (jumping) off a speed hump or the gutter. (Jake lost four demerit points, Karl lost his ‘licence’.)
Karl: The girls didn’t lose any points so they got a show bag.
TOR: What else did you learn?
Karl: They gave us a bike with faulty bits and we had to find what was wrong with it. There was 14 and we found them all.
Jake: Yeah, there were things like chains that had come off, the tyres were flat, loose discs, warn-out grips, stuff like that.
Karl: They also told us you have to test your brakes and check your helmet everytime you get on your bike.
TOR: Did you enjoy the course?
Both: Yeah, it was heaps good, it was fun.
To find a CARES group in your area, check the White Pages.
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