Teachers urged to register for Road Safety Week

As term time resumes, so too does the congestion in traffic around our schools.

Keeping pupils safe on our roads is always a concern for educators and parents, and teachers are being urged to register now for Road Safety week in order to obtain free resources.

This year, Road Safety week is 16-22 May.

Organising charity, Brake, provides online resources including downloadable posters, advice and case studies of how to use the resources.

Go to www.roadsafetyweek.org.nz to register for a free e-action pack.

There are links to useful resources from other organisations, such as the NZ Transport Agency’s education portal.

Brake’s main theme for 2016 is ‘Step up for road safety’.

Primary educators can hold a Giant Walk as a way of reminding drivers in their community to slow down around schools, and to encourage safe walking to and from school.

Secondary educators can challenge their students to devise their own road safety campaign.

Director of Brake NZ, Caroline Perry, says, “Road safety is a crucial issue, and educators can play a pivotal role in helping to reduce the risks children, families and young people face – by teaching road safety and raising awareness locally of community road safety issues.

“Teachers and child carers are brilliantly placed to help children and young people be safe on roads by encouraging youngsters to develop and lead their own road safety campaign. By giving children and young people ownership of such an important project, you are giving them the opportunity to explore and improve their own safety, while also meeting important curriculum goals.

“Children and young people all have thoughts and ideas to contribute on road danger and how to make roads safer and Road Safety Week is a great opportunity to help them to speak out on key local issues.”