National Walk Safely to School Day (WSTSD), an annual event promoting road safety around schools and the health benefits of activities such as walking, is taking place on Friday, May 10.
The Queensland Police Service is encouraging parents, schools and primary school aged children to join in the initiative to walk safely to school to raises awareness of road safety.
Now in its 25th year, the initiative was founded by Pedestrian Council Australia and plays an important role in National Road Safety Week, which is taking place May 5 to 11 this year.
Walk Safely to School Day helps children develop vital road crossing skills and ensure children up to the age of 10 practice important habits such as holding an adult’s hand when crossing the road.
The campaign also encourages the use of alternative active transport, such as scooters and bikes, which reduces the impact on the environment as well as reducing car dependency and traffic congestion.
Regular walking can help children to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle and has a favourable impact on children’s cognitive and academic performance.
How to get involved
- For parents and carers: If you have a primary school aged child in your life, the best thing you can do is walk safely to school with them on Friday, May 10.
- For schools: You can register your school to promote the initiative! (Plus, most kids love seeing themselves on TV!).
Teachers can also print their own posters and educational materials to use in the classroom.
WSTSD also emphasises the importance of motorists practicing patience and slowing down when travelling near schools.
There is no excuse for speeding and making poor decisions on the roads, so slow down and be patient so everyone can arrive at their destination safely.
Having proper traffic awareness and education from a young age can help make a difference for many Australians.
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or carer – everyone has a role to play in helping children and young people to develop lifelong road safety skills and lead active healthy lives.
For more information, please go to Walk Safely to School Day.
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