Home & People Parents have strong influence on road safety awareness

Press, 4 July 1978, Page 12

Home & People Parents have strong influence on road safety awareness

Even though they may not ralise it parents still have an influence in many things, one of which is the acceptance of traffic rules and a general standard of good behaviour on our roads. From time to time it is necessary to review traffic

laws and requirements so that they may be kept in line with modern living and with progress. Parents too, may find it helps to review their habits occasionally so that they do not find themselves out of step with their families, particularly whei the children are in touch with modem developments through their school instruction and activities. The Ministry of Transport has specialist officers who visit every school in New Zealand, giving to all pupils at least two lessons a year on road safety. This is not merely confined to teaching youngsters to “look right, look left, and look right again” before crossing the street — the popular image of the road traffic instructor who earns the gratitude of the class by relieving them of half an hour’s spelling or maths. It progresses through the requirements of behaviour on streets and roads, and in traffic to avoid accidents, through to the discussion of accident situations and their prevention. The role of the parents is, then, to be on their mettle in traffic, to see that they know the legal requirements, and not to let their children down by ignoring traffic signs, jaywalking, trying to beat the traffic lights, and any other bad habits which could be imitated by the children and could cause harm to them and to others using the roads. Bad habits such as jaywalking, darting out onto a roadway from between parked cars or cycling out ol gateways are all too often established in the early years. Anv bad habit acquired early is a serious handicap as the child must “unlearn” it again for his own safety — especially if he learns to drive later and wants to become a competent motorist. Punctuality is a habit to instil early. People who are always late are often in a hurry, and traffic does not always allow for this. Dawdlers, too, can be a menace to themselves and to others. A sense of fair play can be instiled in children in school activities — games, groups activities, and so on, and this is an asset which should be fostered throughout life. It can be particularly valuable when on the road because out of it grows consideration for others which is a very good basis for safe driving, cycling and walking. Self-control and modesty are particularly desirable attributes for road users and may be developed from pre-school years by training and encouragement in good manners which develop the right kind of attitude towards others. Self-indulgence does not develop self-control, and showing off and boasting have no place on our roads. All too often one finds immature adults giving accounts of the short time it took them to get from one place to another, and children are often led to imitate them with the result that caution is lessened and danger increased. Powers of concentration are usually quite strong in children, but continual interruption will spoil them. If you are constantly interrupting your children, you cannot be surprised if they interrupt you when you are driving and distract your attention when you should be giving it all to the job in hand and the road ahead. It is a recognised fact that the hands steer where the eyes look, so if you turn to see what a child is doing you can expect trouble.

The attributes referred to are personal qualities of value anywhere. For safety in traffic it is essential to cultivate other habits such as keeping to the left, giving good clear signals when cycling or driving, and always looking tJ see that the way is clear and it is safe to go ahead. The last of these also applies at pedestrian crossings, although many people tend to forget this. Pedestrian crossings should be approached with caution by pedestrians, drivers and cyclists alike. If you are on foot you should always look for approaching traffic before stepping onto the road, and children should be trained not to run along a footpath to a pedestrian crossing as the odds are they will carry on running on to the crossing without looking either way to check tor traffic. Many of the good habits encouraged and taught by road traffic instructors are practised by children but not by their parents. How many times mothers taking children with them an shopping expeditions during school holidays allow them to straggle across the street just anywhere, or grab the chiodren by the hand and make a dash for the other side regardless of road markings or of approaching traffic. This may be lack of thought, but too many people think that road safety measures are not for them. Children are naturally impulsive and they often do not take the usual precautions when they are with adults. The onus is on the adult not only to ensure that the children walk in safety, but that they observe all the precautionary measures they are taught at school. Many parents drive to school to pick up their children and park the car opposite the school gate to wait for them. The children see the familiar car with mother at the wheel and all thought of safety goes to the winds as they dash across the road to join her. How much better it would be if mother met the children on foot at the school exit and escorted them to the car. Far from doing this, many people who are thoughtless — and rather selfish too — park outside the school close to pedestrian crossings, and the children who use them have no view at all of oncoming traffic. This is not onlv thoughtless and selfish, it is also an offence against the law as a motorist may not park on a pedestrian crossing or within seven metres before one. Your part in your child’s education in road safety is very important: CHECK BICYCLES for safety every few weeks — brakes, reflector, and gen eral mechanical condition are important. NEVER allow your children to play on footpaths or on the sides of streets or roads. NEVER allow children to practise cycling on the footpath. DON’T distract your children or attempt to take them away from where they are using a crossing controlled by a school patrol. DON’T encourage children to cross on a crossing controlled by traffic lights unless the “Cross Now” or the green light is showing. Do not anticipate this. Good clear instructions on road safety given to your children at home or by a road traffic instructor and teachers at school are invaluable, but these do not take the place of the good example you can and should set, particularly when you are out with your children on or near the roads. Much of what children j do is copied from adults ; — especially their parents. * If you take an active i interest, in the things your children do and explain clearly to them the reasons why you do not want them to do unsafe or risky things, you will un--doubtedly get a good rei sponse from them.