Automobile Association of Malaysia

ROAD SAFETY FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN

As we prepare our children for another year of schooling, it is equally important to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skill in how to make travelling to school a lot safer.

A great deal of road accidents in Malaysia involve school children, whether they are not taught the proper ways of crossing the road, or in extremely unfortunate cases, may simply be the victim of inconsiderate motorists.

While parents have the tendency to safeguard their child’s every move to school, they should also be willing and open enough to discuss the dangers of everyday traffic with their children to better prepare them for the worse.

Whether the child is walking or riding to school, of if he or she is in Primary or Secondary school, it is important that students become aware of proper road safety etiquette so they can apply it to good use when dealing with the real scenario of ruthless everyday traffic.

The younger they are exposed to this, the better pedestrian or motorist they grow up to be and the safer they are on the road.

We at the Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM) are extremely concerned about the safety of school children realising that motor vehicles contribute alarmingly to the increased number of road accidents involving students.

We’ve included a checklist for every parent and child to carefully consider, learn and practise about how to make traveling to school a much safer experience.

If you cycle to school…no more than 2 people on the bike…
Where possible, always encourage your child to cycle alone to allow him better control of the bicycle. Limit the bicycle to two people as the greater the number the more he loses grip and balance on the bike.
Use a reflective vest when cycling to school in the morning for people to see you
Always have a reflective vest handy in the school bag and encourage children to wear it particularly when walking or riding to school in the wee hours of morning or when returning after dark. This allows them to become more visible to motorists. When cycling, make it a habit to have a projector light in front and a beacon light at the rear for greater visibility.
Never play or sit too closely by the roadside
A lot of school children take it for granted that it is safe to be sitting, or playing by the roadside amidst traffic. This is very dangerous because your child may be in a motorist’ line of danger. Accidents have been known to occur when a car accidentally strays onto the roadside plowing into students, as have children engrossed in play jumping into harms way without realising it. Always wait at a safe place; a rest area a safe distance away from traffic, the bus stop or in the school compound etc.
l Adhere to the traffic warden
School traffic warden are there for the safety of students crossing the roads and it is extremely important for that school children obey their instructions. Do not distract their attention or jeapordise the safety of others by ignoring the warden and crossing haphazardly.
l Looking left and right before crossing the road is a must
A lot of road accidents involving children occur because they fail to look at both sides of the traffic when crossing or failing to judge the distance of a vehicle. Cross only when traffic is clear on both sides of the road.
Motorists should always stop for pedestrians especially school children and be extra alert when passing a school area
A lot of motorists are equally to be blamed for accidents involving school children simply because they fail to adhere to the traffic regulations. When entering a school zone, always slow down and be prepared for the unexpected. The slower you drive or ride, the better prepared you are to counter steer should a child suddenly dashes across the road. Remember, these are children we’re dealing with and the likelyhood of them making a mistake is far greater than any motorist.
Always use the pedestrian bridge or traffic lights when crossing
The local authorities have invested a great deal of money building overhead pedestrian bridges and stationing traffic lights near schools to facilitate safe crossing. Yet, most children and adults
alike, prefer to risk life and limb jaywalking across heavy traffic.