Keeping children safe on our roads these school holidays
Port Stephens Council is once again partnering with the Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation and joining the push to help ensure the safety of children on our roads these school holidays.
Mayor Leah Anderson praised the Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation’s ‘Holiday Time; Slow Down, Kids Around’ signage campaign, stating it’s an obvious and timely reminder about the importance of road safety.
“We have lots of people visiting our beautiful area over the holidays – so this campaign is great for reminding residents and visitors to drive safely and watch out for kids near roads,” Mayor Anderson said.
“These brightly coloured signs are a reminder to motorists to slow their speed, and for parents and carers to hold their child’s hand when near the road,” she added.
In Australia, road trauma is the leading cause of death for children aged 1 to 14, with 29% of these deaths occurring while children are pedestrians.
Michelle and David McLaughlin on the Central Coast established the ‘Holiday Time’ campaign in 2014 after the tragic death of their son Tom in a pedestrian roadside accident during a family holiday.
“Holiday destinations are most often a new and unfamiliar environment for children and their families with key visual roadway differences,” said Michelle McLaughlin.
“These differences include lack of kerbs, guttering, line markings or footpaths.
"Parents and carers need to have a conversation with their children and go through how they’re expected to behave when they’re in this environment,” she added.
The Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation collaborates with local councils to enhance community safety during peak periods when the risk of crashes increases. The campaign is currently active in 39 councils across 4 states in Australia.
For more information, visit www.littlebluedinosaur.org
