school road safety guide

kids

lightbulbReinforce that your child should always choose a safe place to cross and then:

  • 1

    stop

    one step back from the kerb
  • 2

    look

    right, left, and right again for traffic
  • 3

    listen

    for the sound of traffic approaching
  • 4

    think

    about whether it’s safe to cross before doing so

lightbulbAlways hold hands with an adult when crossing the road.

lightbulbAlways hold hands with younger kids when crossing the road together.

lightbulbCross the road at a safe crossing area.

lightbulbWear safety gear when riding a bike, skateboard or scooter.

lightbulbBe aware of cars and pedestrians when riding a bike.

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parents

Each Australian state and territory has specific laws and regulations around school road safety. These rules concern mobile phone usage, speed limits, child restraints, and other relevant safety issues. As a parent, you’ll want to be aware of these rules so you can protect your own child around school areas, respect the safety of others on the road, and ensure you’re observing the law.

In addition to specific laws and regulations that must be followed, there are also a number of areas that parents can be vigilant to ensure school road safety, including where and how you approach the school, teaching your children road safety, and simple diligence that may prevent an accident in the future.

General School Guidelines

Please refer to the following for further general children’s safety on the road strategies, regardless of which state or territory you’re located in.

  • Stop, look, listen, and think From a young age, teach children the stop, look, listen, and think approach to crossing roads.
  • Young pedestrians Always hold hands with younger children when crossing the road. Younger children can be unpredictable, so make sure they’re not allowed to wander off when you’re waiting to cross.
  • Bicycles and scooters Older kids riding bicycles and scooters to school should wear appropriate helmets. Make sure your child has a well-fitting and correctly adjusted helmet. Check they’re riding at safe speeds and taking care around pedestrians and other riders. Keep bikes and scooters well-maintained so they’re safe to use.
  • Visibility Whether you’re a driver or parent to a child who walks to school, consider visibility issues. Weather, heavy traffic, large vehicles, and double parking can impede visibility for both your child and other drivers. Take extra care and teach your child to be cautious when there’s poor visibility. For example, never double or triple park as it blocks visibility for others. A double-parked car is dangerous if your child is getting in or out as you’re right next to other vehicles. If you plan ahead and give yourself more time, you can park safely a street or two away and walk your children to the gates.
  • Safety door Assign a safety door for your drop off and pick up so the kids know which side is safe to get out (the side opening out onto the kerb).
  • Learner and probationary drivers Probationary drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents than learner drivers, so if possible for your family’s situation avoid having a probationary license holder pick up and drop off the kids.

Special signage

In addition to strict speed limits, your school zone can have other types of signage. The signs are there for a reason, so double check these signs so you’re obeying the law and staying safe.

Look out also for bus zone signs and children’s crossing signs. Check with your local transport authority to find out how far you need to stay away from a children’s crossing sign when stopping and parking.

National child restraint laws

All children must be safely fastened in the correct child car seat for their age and size. A child who is properly secured in an approved child car seat is less likely to be injured or killed in a car crash than one who is not.

  • Under 6 months Children up to the age of 6 months should be in an approved rearward-facing restraint.
  • 6 months - 4 years old If your child is between 6 months and 4 years of age, they need to be in either a rear- or forward-facing approved child restraint with an in-built harness. If your child is under 4 years of age and your vehicle has two or more rows of seats, your child must not be seated in the front seat.
  • 4 - 7 years old Children aged 4 years or more but under 7 years of age should be secured in a forward-facing approved child restraint with an in-built harness or an approved booster seat. They must not be seated in the front row if the vehicle has two or more rows. However, they can do so if all the back seats have been taken up by children under the age of 7 in approved restraints or booster seats.
  • 7 - 16 years old Children aged from 7 years old but under the age of 16 are strongly recommended to use an approved booster seat if they’re too small to be restrained by a seatbelt.
  • Booster seats If your child is seated in a booster seat, they must be restrained by a suitable lap-sash type approved seatbelt that is properly adjusted and fastened. If not, they need to be restrained with a suitable, approved child safety harness that is properly adjusted and fastened.
  • Smaller children If your child is too small for the recommended restraint or seat type, keep them on their current restraint until it’s safe for them to be seated the required type.
  • Bigger children If your child is too large for the recommended restraint or seat type, you can move them up to the next level.

View the full regulations on the Child Car Seats site here

New South Wales

If you’d like to find out more about road safety education as a parent, you can find out more about attending a workshop or obtaining information resources at the Road Safety site by Transport NSW.

School areas and back-to-school safety

New South Wales, like other states, has specific laws on school safety. Remember your child’s safety depends on you, so be aware of the relevant risks, rules, and recommended practices.

Dropping off by car

  • When dropping off and picking up by car, use the school side of the road and stick to designated pick-up and drop-off spaces where possible.
  • Avoid having your child cross the road to get to your car if possible, or ensure there’s a safe designated crossing they can use.
  • Make sure your child gets out on the kerb side and not the road side of the car.
  • Drop them off as close to school as possible so they don’t have to walk far on their own.
  • Avoid parking near the school bus bays.

Pedestrians

  • Be ready to give way to pedestrians, especially around crossings.

Speed limits

  • Stay under the 40km/h speed limit applicable to school zones, where children and pedestrians are in high numbers and can be less predictable.
  • In some areas, school zone flashing lights and dragon’s teeth markings on the road alert drivers as they enter a school zone. These signs serve as a reminder for you to reduce your speed. Note the speed limit applies only during school times and the times noted on the signs, usually 8 to 9.30am and from 2.30 to 4pm.

Shared traffic zones

  • Watch out for shared traffic zones where pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles share the road. The speed limit in these zones is 10km/h.

Buses

  • Be alert to school buses pulling out as these can be numerous in school zones. Look out for the wig-wag lights signalling the bus is picking up or letting off schoolkids. For extra visibility, the bus’s headlights will also flash during this time. Note marked bus zones have an applicable limit of 40km/h.

Bus trips

  • If your child takes the bus, meet them at the bus stop rather than across the road as children can be most at risk of involvement in accidents when they get off the bus.

Avoid dangerous manoeuvres

  • Park and drive with a view to avoiding potentially dangerous manoeuvres such as three-point turns and U-turns.

Walking

  • When walking your child to school, plan your trips to use pedestrian crossings and school crossings when possible. Plan your walks by using recommended NSW guidelines to work out whether a route is safe or not.
  • For children under the age of 8, hold your child’s hand at all times as younger children can wander off and may not be able to spot dangers like vehicles backing out of driveways.

Stop, look, listen, and think

  • Talk to your kids about the process for crossing the road: Stop, Look, Listen, and Think.

They should:

  • STOP one step back from the kerb and
  • LOOK right, left, and right again for traffic,
  • LISTEN for the sound of traffic approaching and
  • THINK about whether it’s safe to cross before doing so.

NSW child restraint laws

If you’d like to find out more about road safety education as a parent, you can find out more about attending a workshop or obtaining information resources at the Road Safety site by Transport NSW.

  • Under 6 months Children up to the age of 6 months should be in an approved rearward-facing restraint.
  • 6 months - 4 years old If your child is between 6 months and 4 years of age, they need to be in either a rear or forward facing approved child restraint with an in-built harness. If your child is under 4 years of age and your vehicle has two or more rows of seats, your child must not be seated in the front seat.
  • 4 - 7 years old Children aged 4 years or more but under 7 years of age should be seated in a forward-facing approved child restraint with an in-built harness or an approved booster seat. They must not be seated in the front row if the vehicle has two or more rows. However, they can do so if all the back seats have been taken up by children under the age of 7 in an approved restraint or booster seat.
  • 7 - 16 years old Children aged from 7 years old but under the age of 16 are strongly recommended to use an approved booster seat if they’re too small to be restrained by a seatbelt.
  • Booster seats If your child is seated in a booster seat, they must be restrained by a suitable lap-sash type approved seatbelt that is properly adjusted and fastened. If not, they need to be restrained with a suitable approved child safety harness that is properly adjusted and fastened.
  • Smaller children If your child is too small for the recommended restraint or seat type, keep them on their current restraint until it’s safe for them to be seated the required type.
  • Bigger children If your child is too large for the recommended restraint or seat type, you can move them up to the next level.

View the full regulations on the New South Wales government site here.

Victoria

Whether you’re a driver or cyclist in Victoria, remember to slow down in school speed zones around school times. Be alert to signs reminding you you’re in a school zone and slow down, as kids are unpredictable and can be hard to see.

Speed limits in school zones

You’ll be subject to different speed limits depend on the type of school zone, so pay extra attention to the signage to make sure you’re staying safe for yourself and the kids when on the road.

  • 40km/h in most cases In most cases, the speed limit in a school zone is 40km/h if the original speed limit is less than 80km/h, and 60km/h when the original speed limit is 80km/h or higher. Advance warning signs tell you when you’re approaching but not yet in a school zone. They will tell you the applicable speed limit when you enter the zone.
  • Permanent 40km/h zones In permanent 40km/h zones, the speed zone is, as the name suggests, always 40km/h. Permanent school zones are usually marked by a fixed, painted (not electronic) sign that tells you to stay at 40km/h (or applicable speed) at all times.
  • Time-based zones In these zones, speed limits apply between 8 and 9.30am and 2.30 and 4pm on school days. The signage will tell you the times during school days when you need to adhere to the stricter speed limit.
  • Variable zones In these zones, the speed limit can change depending on time and traffic conditions. Electronic signs alert you to the applicable limit.

Signage

Get to know the different types of signage for more information about staying safe around schools.

  • 40km/h sign All school zones are signposted in Victoria. The 40km/h sign is probably the best indication you’re entering a school zone, so watch out for these and slow down immediately.
  • Children’s crossings If the flags are up at a children’s crossing, you’re required to stop for pedestrians who are crossing or waiting to cross. You need to remain stationary until the crossing is completely clear. These stopping rules apply even if there’s not a crossing supervisor on duty.
  • Yellow edge lines Look out for yellow edge lines that warn you against stopping or parking near the line.
  • No stopping signs If there’s a no stopping sign, you’re forbidden from stopping at the kerb regardless of your reason.

Tips for staying safe in school zones

In addition to driving slowly and under the speed limit, use these general tips to stay safe in school zones.

  • Supervise Supervise your children and hold their hands around roads.
  • Reduce traffic Reduce traffic congestion by walking or busing to school.
  • Pay attention to signage Always be alert to changing signage and follow the applicable speed limit and rules.
  • Meet your child Meet your kids on the same side of the road they’ll be waiting rather than having them cross the road to you.
  • Kerbside doors Remind kids to use kerbside doors on cars and not the doors on the traffic side.

VIC child restraints

Children grow at different rates, and require different restraints as they grow. The restraint must be the right size for the child, properly adjusted and fastened, and correctly fitted to the vehicle.

  • Under 6 months Children up to the age of 6 months should be in an approved rearward-facing restraint.
  • 6 months - 4 years old If your child is between 6 months and 4 years of age, they need to be in either a rear- or forward-facing approved child restraint with an in-built harness. If your child is under 4 years of age and your vehicle has two or more rows of seats, your child must not be seated in the front seat. It’s important to note that even if your child is 6 months old they may not be ready to travel in a forward-facing restraint. We recommend your child stays in the rear-facing restraint until they are too big for it. Children under the age of 4 years must only travel in the back seat of a vehicle. If your vehicle does not have a back seat (e.g. a ute) they can travel in the front seat if they are in a child restraint. However, rear facing child restraints can't be used in the front seat if it has an airbag.
  • 4 - 7 years old Children aged 4 years or more but under 7 years of age should be seated in a forward-facing approved child restraint with an in-built harness or an approved booster seat. The type you choose will depend on their age and size - the Victorian government recommends that you keep your child in a forward-facing restraint with an in-built harness until they are too big for it, and then move them to a booster seat. They must not be seated in the front row if the vehicle has two or more rows, unless all the back seats have been taken up by children under the age of 7 in an approved restraint or booster seat. If your vehicle does not have a back seat (e.g. a ute) they can travel in the front seat if they are in a child restraint.
  • 7 + years old Children aged from 7 years old must use either a booster seat or an adult seatbelt. The Victorian government states that an adult lap-sash seatbelt is designed for people with a minimum height of 145 cm, and that the average child will reach this height between 10 to 12 years of age. Children who are not tall enough to use an adult seat belt can slump into their seat. The lap part of the seat belt is then too high on their stomach which causes more serious injuries in a crash. Therefore, it is recommended that children continue sitting in a booster seat until they have outgrown it. There are some booster seats available for children up to the age of 10 years.

View the full regulations on the Victoria government site here.

Queensland

School zones in Queensland contain areas where reduced speed limits apply at certain times. Parents should be aware of speed limits, along with drop-off, pick-up, and parking rules. Observing these rules and reducing your speed will make school areas safer and less congested. You can find out more about school zone safety laws and recommendations on the Department of Transport and Main Roads school road safety page.

School areas and back-to-school safety

  • Parking If the school carpark is full, you might need to drop off and pick up by the road. Make sure you drop off your child on the school side of the road and avoid having them cross the road. If it’s busy, park a few streets away and walk your children to the school.
  • Meet your child Meet your children on the school or bus stop side rather than having them cross the road.
  • Signage Look out for signage telling you the applicable speed limits and rules, and when they’re in effect. School zones can have 15-minute parking limits during certain hours. No stopping signs and no parking signs, along with yellow edge lines, tell you where you should not linger in a vehicle.
  • Get a head start Leave early to avoid peak periods around school zones.
  • Crossings Watch out for school crossings, and park a safe distance away from all types of crossings.
  • Single park Avoid double parking at any time, even when you think it’s completely safe to do so.
  • Carpool Try organising a carpool with other parents to reduce the number of cars parking in the school zone area.

Understanding school zone speed limits

In Queensland, school zone limit rules are usually in effect during the following hours: 7 to 9am and 2 to 4pm.

  • 40km/h in most cases
  • Applicable school zone speed limits are usually 40km/h where the normal speed limit is 50, 60, or 70km/h.
  • 60km/h will usually apply if the normal limit is 80km/h.
  • 60km/h or 80km/h can apply if the normal limit is 90km/h or 100km/h.
  • In some cases, 80km/h will apply if the road usually has a limit of 110km/h.

Loading areas

If you’re picking up or dropping off your child, look for loading zone signs. Also known as drop-off and pick-up areas, these safe areas may be marked with a two-minute parking sign. It’s a safe place to quickly pick up and drop off your children, but keep in mind that it works like a taxi rank where you’re required to keep moving.

Once you join the queue, keep moving forward as other parents leave. You can get out quickly to help your kids get in and out safely, but you can’t walk away from the car. If your kids aren’t ready to get into the car, you need to drive round the block and re-join the queue. Let your kids out only when you’ve pulled into the drop-off area, and teach your kids to look out for your car so they can quickly get in when you’ve joined the queue. Keep in mind no reversing is permitted in these loading areas.

QLD child restraint types

The Queensland government states that the type of child restraint you install will depend primarily on the child’s age, but that it’s important to consider the child’s size as well.

  • Under 6 months Children up to the age of 6 months should be in an approved rearward-facing restraint that is properly fastened and adjusted. The Queensland government recommends that babies stay in this type of restraint for as long as their size allows.
  • 6 months - 4 years old If your child is between 6 months and 4 years of age they must be in an approved child restraint that has been properly adjusted and fastened. This restraint may be rearward-facing or forward-facing with an in-built harness. Again, the Queensland government does recommend that babies stay in this type of restraint for as long as their size allows.
  • 4 - 7 years old Children aged 4 years or more up to 7 years of age may be in an approved forward-facing child restraint with an in-built harness, or an approved booster seat with a lap-sash seatbelt or adjusted H-Harness. The Queensland government states that research has indicated the booster seat with a H-Harness option provides a lower level of safety in some types of crashes. should be seated in a forward-facing approved child restraint with an inbuilt harness or an approved booster seat.
  • 7 + years old Children who are 7 years and over may sit in a standard seat with an adult seatbelt, or an approved booster seat/cushion secured with an adult lap-sash seatbelt or an H-Harness. Or, they may be in an approved child restraint that is forward-facing with a built-in harness that is properly adjusted and fastened.
  • Booster seats Booster cushions are legal to use providing they complied with the Australian standard AS/NZS 1754 at the time of manufacture. The booster cushion should have a sticker showing approval and a date stamp for when it was manufactured. The Queensland government recommends child booster cushions be less than 10 years old.

View the full regulations on the Queensland government site here.

South Australia

As with the other states, South Australia has specific regulations and guidelines for school safety areas.

Speed limits

South Australia has a lower speed limit than other states and territories. A 25km/h speed limit applies to school zones, as well as children’s crossings when the lights are flashing. The same speed limit will apply if you’re driving past a school bus that’s stopped to drop off or pick up children.

School zones are marked with signs and zigzag lines on the road, so look out for these to ascertain whether you need to slow down. Note P1 Licence holders under 25 are subject to passenger restrictions, so make sure you have a qualified supervising driver when dropping off more than one friend aged 16-20 (immediate family members exempt) with the kids.

Train and tram crossings

Make sure your children are aware of train and tram crossings, and know to watch out for these. If your kids walk to school without you accompanying them, teach them to use pedestrian crossings when passing train and tram stations. Educate them about crossing lights and bells so they understand how boom gates work, and ensure they know to double check both sides when crossing the tracks.

SA seatbelts and child restraints

Child restraints must match the age and size of the child, and must always be properly installed as well as adjusted to fit the child’s body.

  • Under 6 months Children up to the age of 6 months must be in an approved rearward-facing restraint. Children under the age of 6 months must not be in the front seat of a vehicle that has two more rows of seats.
  • 6 months - 4 years old If your child is between 6 months and 4 years of age, they need to be in either a rear or forward facing approved child restraint with an in-built harness. If your child is under 4 years of age and your vehicle has two or more rows of seats, your child must not be seated in the front seat.
  • 4 - 7 years old Children aged 4 years or more but under 7 years of age should be seated in a forward-facing approved child restraint with an inbuilt harness, or an approved booster seat with a lap-sash seatbelt. They must not be seated in the front row if the vehicle has two or more rows. However, they can do so if all the back seats have been taken up by children under the age of 7 in an approved restraint or booster seat.
  • 7 - 16 years old Children aged from 7 years old but under the age of 16 must use an approved child restraint such as a child safety seat or a booster seat - dependent on their size, or a seatbelt that is properly adjusted and fastened.

The South Australian government has noted that while child restraint laws are based on age, a child’s height and weight are still important to consider when making a choice about which restraint is right for your child.

View the full regulations on the South Australia government site here.

Western Australia

Western Australia not only focuses on educating parents on school road safety, but also on the general driving population. There are a number of resources available online to assist with driver education and preparedness from the Western Australian Police Force as well as safety organisation SDERA.

Speed

A 40km/h speed limit applies to areas with high levels of pedestrian activity, whether it’s a shopping centre or school area, so look out for these signs around school areas and be ready to slow down. School zones typically will have a 40km/h speed limit sign. The limit usually applies between 7.30 to 9am and 2.30 to 4pm on school days, or it can apply permanently as indicated by the signage. Some school zones will have electronic signs that adjust the speed limit according to school hours. The limit ceases to take effect where you see an End of School Zone sign.

WA seatbelts and child restraints

Drivers are legally responsible for ensuring that children are suitably restrained in a vehicle in accordance with Seatbelt rules.

  • Under 6 months Children up to the age of 6 months must be in an approved rearward-facing restraint, for example an infant capsule.
  • 6 months - 4 years old If your child is between 6 months and 4 years of age, they need to be in either a rear or forward facing approved child restraint with an in-built harness.
  • 4 - 7 years old Children aged 4 years or more but under 7 years of age should be seated in either a forward-facing approved child restraint with an in-built harness, or an approved booster seat with a correctly adjusted and fastened seatbelt or child safety harness.

View the full regulations on the Western Australia government site here.

Tasmania

Tasmania is home to mountainous ranges, windy roads and small towns. There are 138 primary schools (Kindergarten - Year 5), 57 high schools (Year 7 - 10) and 8 ‘colleges’ (Years 11 and 12).

Speed

Tasmania’s school zones usually have a 40km/h speed limit when school is in session. If you’re driving in a school area, look out for the variable electronic school speed signs. These signs have their own operating times depending on the school.

When driving around school buses, be alert to flashing lights that tell you when the bus is stopping and school children are getting off or on the bus. The law requires you to travel at 40km/h around school buses.

Inspector Adrian Shadbolt with the Tasmania Police Force stated, “Speeding puts drivers and pedestrians at risk, especially around school zones”.1

Pedestrian crossings

Make sure your kids cross at designated crossings where possible, and supervise them if no crossings are nearby. Drop your kids off on the same side of the road as the school or the school bus, and meet them on the other side if you’re picking them up on the other side of the road.

Inspector Adrian Shadbolt, Tasmania Police Force “We don’t want children to take risks around cars and traffic”.1

TAS child restraint laws

The Tasmanian government recommends that the car seat for your child must suit their age and size. It is important not to move your child from one car seat to another too early.

  • Under 6 months Children up to the age of 6 months must be in an approved rearward-facing restraint. Children under the age of 3 years can be in an approved rearward-facing restraint.
  • 6 months - 7 years old If your child is between 6 months and 7 years of age, they need to be in either a rear or forward-facing approved child restraint with an in-built harness. Once your child outgrows the rearward-facing restraint they can move to a forward-facing car seat with an in-built harness. When your child is 4 years or older, or is too big to fit comfortably in a forward-facing car seat, they can move to a booster seat with a properly fitted seatbelt or harness.
  • 4 - 12 years old Children aged from 4 years old but under the age of 12 are required to use an approved booster seat if they’re too small to be restrained by a seatbelt.

Booster seats with a high back and side support provide the best protection in a crash.

Children over 7 years of age should continue to use a booster seat as long as they fit comfortably, before moving into a seatbelt.

View the full regulations on the Tasmania government site here.

References

1http://www.police.tas.gov.au/news-events/media-releases/road-safety-back-to-school-20-july-2015/

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory of Australia is home to Uluru, some of Australia’s best known national parks, and spans terrains of desert to tropical beaches. Despite not having huge metropolitan capital cities such as Melbourne or Sydney, Darwin holds its own as a central hub of the Northern Territory and the state as a whole has a number of schools that require school road safety.

Speed

If you’re located in the Northern Territory, you are required to drive at or under 40km/h when in a school zone. The speed limit applies only on school days and during the times indicated on the limit sign. Children may be passengers or pedestrians on or around the road, so take the relevant measures to ensure your child’s safety according to what they’re doing.

Pedestrians

As a pedestrian, your child should always be supervised, whether they’re crossing the road to the bus or walking to school. Make sure you look out for traffic hazards, such as cars exiting driveways. Teach your children to follow a systematic crossing strategy, which can involve first choosing the best place to cross, asking for adult help where possible, and looking and listening out for traffic.

For more information about safety laws and recommendations for parents and children around schools, refer to the Northern Territory government’s school road safety resources.

NT child restraints

A child must be properly restrained when travelling in a vehicle to reduce the chance of serious injury or death if involved in a car accident or crash.

  • Under 6 months Children up to the age of 6 months must be in an approved rearward-facing restraint. Children under the age of 6 months must not be in the front seat of a vehicle that has two more rows of seats.
  • 6 months - 4 years old If your child is between 6 months and 4 years of age, they need to be in either a rear- or forward-facing approved child restraint. If your child is under 4 years of age and your vehicle has two or more rows of seats, your child must not be seated in the front seat.
  • 4 - 7 years old Children aged 4 years or more but under 7 years of age should be seated in a forward-facing approved child restraint or an approved booster seat. They must not be seated in the front row if the vehicle has two or more rows. However, they can do so if all the back seats have been taken up by younger children in approved restraints or booster seats.
  • 7 + years old Children aged from 7 years old are to use a booster seat or an adult seatbelt.
  • Smaller children If your child is too small for the recommended restraint or seat type, keep them on their current restraint until it’s safe for them to be seated the required type.
  • Bigger children If your child is too large for the recommended restraint or seat type, you can move them up to the next level. Your child is too large for a restraint when the harness straps are below the shoulders, or their shoulders no longer fit if they are under 6 months old. If they are up to 4 years old, their shoulders should no longer fit comfortably and their eye level is higher than the back of the seat.

View the full regulations on the Northern Territory government site here.

Australian Capital Territory

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is home to Canberra, the capital of Australia, and has an estimated resident population of around 400,000.

Speed

The Australian Capital Territory has a 40km/h speed limit for school zones, and this limit applies between 8am and 4pm on weekdays. Like other states and territories, standards for approved child restraints apply, and all children travelling in vehicles must be adequately restrained.

As a parent, be proactive with teaching your kids about safety on the road. Whether they’re waiting for you to pick them up, getting off a bus, or using a children’s crossing, your child should be alert to the dangers of the road and know how to stay safe on the road.

  • Crossing the road Teach your child to use crossings where possible. If there’s no nearby crossing, make sure they know to check both sides for traffic, listen for sounds of approaching vehicles, and ensure the road is safe to cross.
  • Passengers Talk with your children about the importance of restraints and safety belts, so everyone knows why they need to be restrained appropriately on the road.
  • Driveways Warn your children about the potential dangers of driveways, and make sure you supervise them around driveways. Educate them about similar risks in car parks, private roads, and laneways that have traffic but don’t look like roads.
  • Safe drop off and pick up Talk with your kids about safe behaviours for dropping off and picking up around the school. Demonstrate how to get in and out of the car safely, by checking the road for other vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians before opening the door.

For other general road safety tips, check out the Constable Kenny Koala website as recommended by the Australian Federal Police.

ACT child restraints in vehicles

The Australian Capital Territory government states that all children under 7 years of age must be restrained in a child restraint that meets the Australian/New Zealand Standard (AS/NZS) 1754.

  • Under 6 months Children up to the age of 6 months must be in an approved, properly fastened and adjusted rearward-facing restraint.
  • 6 months - 4 years old If your child is between 6 months and 4 years of age, they need to be in either a rear- or forward-facing approved child restraint with an in-built harness. If your child is under 4 years of age and your vehicle has two or more rows of seats, your child must not be seated in the front seat.
  • 4 - 7 years old Children aged 4 years or more but under 7 years of age should be seated in a forward-facing approved, properly fastened and adjusted child restraint with an in-built harness, or an approved booster seat with a seatbelt that is properly fastened and adjusted. They must not be seated in the front row if the vehicle has two or more rows. However, they can do so if all the back seats have been taken up by younger in an approved restraint or booster seat. The child in the front seat must be in an approved booster seat with a properly fastened and adjusted seatbelt.
  • 7 + years Children aged from 7 years old or over can legally sit in the front seat of a vehicle, provided they are restrained in a lap-sash type seatbelt.

View the full regulations on the Australian Capital Territory government site here.

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school

Like parents, schools can contribute to road safety for kids through road safety policies in and around the school area. A road-safety policy for schools could include recommendations to parent drivers, educating kids and parents on road safety, and improving signage and zoning in and around the school.

Educate parents

Use newsletters, blog articles on the school website, and flyers to communicate safety recommendations to parent drivers. While other drivers also use the roads around the school, parents are the most frequent users and most likely to be driving during peak periods such as the start and end of the school day.

  • Slow down Remind parent drivers of the importance of observing speed limits. Reinforce the significance of slowing down in school zones. Limiting speed has been proven to help with reducing road trauma rates.
  • Take extra care Let parents know how it important it is to take extra care around schools and not to rush.
  • Practice crossing with kids Suggest to parents that they practice crossing roads safely with kids, and act as a positive role model when with their children. Through discussions and experience – which parents in their daily interactions with their children are perfectly positioned to provide – kids can get the essential practice they need to use roads safely. For example, schools in Geelong, Victoria, were able to achieve good outcomes with an initiative to both reduce traffic and encourage parent-supervised walking to school1.
  • Children as passengers Without a restraint, children in cars can be 10 times more likely to be killed in a road crash. Laws requiring child restraints have helped with lowering road trauma levels. Highlight the importance of having a correctly fitted appropriate child’s car restraint or booster seat for children in vehicles. Kids should also be seated in the rear row of the vehicle for maximum safety.

Reference

1https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/road-safety-education/safe-to-school-case-studies

Educate kids

Provide road safety training for kids through different media. For example, you can provide regular road-safety sessions during school hours, hand out road-safety brochures with kid-friendly graphics, and even use interactive web-based games or tutorials to teach kids about safety on the road.

What type of education works with kids?

Research on road safety initiatives for young people suggests relying on fear-based appeals, information-based programs, or one-off day education sessions may not work as well as in-school programs. Comprehensive, interactive programs delivered on a regular basis tend to be more successful, especially if they build the social competencies of young people, and are delivered across age groups and the curriculum.

Developing education and training programs

A great idea is to incorporate government programs into your regular in-school road-safety program. Get your school involved in programs like Walk to School, Ride2School and Walk Safely to School Day, and work with government initiatives like NSW’s Road Safety Education Program.

The National Practices for Early Childhood Road Safety Education are a good starting point for your education program. As you develop your in-school road-safety education program, keep the following tips in mind.

  • Age considerations Children usually need help when dealing with traffic environments until the age of 10. Until then, they’re not physically and developmentally able to make critical decisions about safety on the road. Younger children will need more hands-on supervision than older children.
  • Children as pedestrians Children are easily distracted, harder for drivers to see, and less predictable than adult pedestrians. They might be less capable of judging the speed and distance of vehicles, and they may find it hard to judge the direction of traffic based on sound. In addition, they usually have poorer ability to react to changing traffic conditions and are less capable of judging where it’s safe to cross. Teach kids to use a systematic crossing strategy, especially younger children, so they can overcome their inherent vulnerabilities as child pedestrians.
  • Safer places to cross Teach kids to use pedestrian crossings and traffic lights where possible, even if it means they have to walk farther. Avoid crossing between parked cars where it’s harder to see approaching traffic, and take extra care in carparks.
  • Buses Educate kids about staying on the kerb until the bus has come to a complete stop, and let them know how to check for oncoming traffic when disembarking. Remind kids it’s important to wait after the bus leaves if they have to cross to the other side of the road.
  • Bikes Older children who bike to school can benefit from in-school programs on bike safety as well as government programs like Bike Ed. Educate kids about the importance of wearing a correctly fitted helmet and other protective and high-visibility clothing. Teach them about riding a bike that’s appropriate for their height, and riding in safer places off the road where possible.

Local road authorities

School zones do have a strong impact on road trauma rates: research by the NSW government, for example, confirms fatalities and injuries in school zones among school age pedestrians dropped significantly with the implementation of 40km/h school zones1.

Contact your local road authority if your school has any concerns about possible risks. Pay attention to local road and construction projects, so you can give your input as a school and make sure road-safety considerations are a priority for the regulating authority.

Reference

1http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/ArticleDocuments/142/197_Improving_Road_Safety.pdf.aspx?Embed=Y

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