“SCHOOL DRIVE SLOWLY"

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 June 1939, Page 7

“SCHOOL DRIVE SLOWLY"

School safety patrols have now been established in 34 schools in the Adelaide j Metropolitan area by the Child Safety Committee of the National Safety Council in conjunction with the Education Department. So widespread is the scheme at present that motorists are already familiar with the conspicuous flags giving them additional warning that they are approaching a school and. which is most important, that there are children about. The ordinary school signs are permanent of course, and the particular value of the red safety patrol flags lies in the fact that they are only hung when there are children leaving or entering schools. As the plan is inaugurated at each school, all the children are assembled and the reasons for the pedestrian crossings and the flags are explained fully. The children have shown a keen interest in the movement and every co-operation has been extended by the Department and the teachers. Children, however, must be forgiven if they have short memories on such subjects, particularly when they are released from school, and it is up to adults to think for them as far as possible when it comes to traffic. The safety lanes are laid down for the children to use when crossing the roads but the flags are there to warn traffic and the co-operation of drivers is essential to the success of the scheme. It may be taken for granted surely that no one would wilfully hurt a child in this way, but it is necessary to go even further than that and to use extra caution near schools in order to prevent them hurting themselves. However much safety education they receive small children will, at times, do foolish things such as rushing out into the road without looking, and we must do our utmost to protect them from serious results from their own thoughtlessness.