Lit tle voices, big choices

Transcription

1 Lit tle voices, big choices Road safety matters Useful resources for teaching road safety Key road safety messages, website links, activities, texts, information sheets, and teacher stimulus materials. Tomorrow s Queensland: strong, green, healthy and fair

2 Teaching program for Prep Year 1 Young children are exposed to the road environment in many ways as pedestrians, passengers and in play situations. They often act impulsively and, when by themselves on or near the road, are vulnerable to the risk of injury and death. Research has shown that children as young as four years of age are capable of learning about road safety. With support from the school community, parents and carers, young children have the ability to learn about road safety and to learn what to do, or not to do, in dangerous situations. Young children need to be given the opportunity to learn to see these situations, both firsthand and in structured environments, so they can make decisions regarding their safety on and near the road as a pedestrian, passenger and at play. 1

3 Key road safety messages The following key road safety messages focus on pedestrian safety. They may help to guide you in selecting and sequencing learning experiences when developing road safety education programs for students in Prep Year 1. Pedestrians: walking to and from school Prep Year 1 students should always be accompanied by a parent, guardian or older sibling when walking. Encourage students to take the safest route to school by planning this with their parents and/or caregivers. A safe route means using pedestrian crossings and footpaths. Special care should be taken when walking on or near roads as they can be dangerous. Use the footpath or nature strip rather than walking on the road. If forced to walk on the road, walk as close to the edge as possible, facing oncoming traffic. Pedestrians: crossing the road Children under 10 years of age should hold the hand of an adult when crossing the road. Always cross the road at the safest possible point such as traffic lights, a pedestrian (zebra) crossing, refuge, or a position highly visible to drivers. If there is no marked crossing, avoid crossing near the crest of a hill or at a bend in the road as it makes it hard to see oncoming traffic. Avoid crossing the road between parked cars. Before crossing the road, remember the rule STOP, LOOK, LISTEN and THINK: STOP at the kerb LOOK right, LOOK left and LOOK right again LISTEN for cars approaching THINK whether or not it is safe to cross and wait until there is a safe break in traffic and all is clear to cross. Allow enough time to cross the road. Cross by the most direct route and don t stop until the other side is reached. Keep a lookout for vehicles coming from any direction (driveways, side roads etc). Listen carefully it helps with hearing and interpreting instructions from adults and also identifies where traffic is coming from and the presence of reversing vehicles. Make eye contact with the driver of any vehicle approaching before crossing the road. If possible, always cross at a children s crossing. Children s crossings are supervised crossings designed to help children cross the road safely near schools. They should be used when they are operating and the red CHILDREN CROSSING flags are displayed. 2

4 Key road safety messages: continued When using a children s crossing: STOP at the side of the road while the supervisor walks out on to the crossing with a red stop sign LOOK and LISTEN for instructions from the crossing supervisor THINK whether or not it is safe to cross wait until all traffic has come to a complete stop and the crossing supervisor has signalled that it is safe to cross by blowing his or her whistle twice before stepping onto the crossing. Obey school crossing supervisor s instructions. Never cross in front of or behind a bus. Wait until the bus has gone before crossing the road. When crossing at traffic lights, only cross when the green WALK or green man sign is showing. Only cross at pedestrian (zebra) crossings when cars have stopped. Wear clothing that is visible. Bright colours and reflective material provide good visibility. When walking on a footpath that crosses a driveway, look and listen for vehicles backing out or entering before crossing the driveway. Think about how vehicles travel at different speeds and can come from many directions. Motor vehicles that appear large in size are usually close by and motor vehicles that appear small in size are usually further away. Remember: not all drivers will do the right thing and obey all the road rules, so it is important to keep a look out and pay attention to clues from vehicles or from road signals and markings. Only cross train tracks at overhead footbridges, subway tunnels or pedestrian level railway crossings. Passengers: waiting to be picked up Be on time. Stand well back from the edge of the road or station (one giant step or approximately 1.5 metres). Listen to instructions from your teacher or supervisor. Remain quiet, without pushing or shoving when waiting. Parents/caregivers should use the Stop, Drop, Go zones whenever possible. Wait for the car to come to a complete stop before getting in or out. Use the car door on the kerb side (known as the safety door) not the road side. Stand well away from known danger zones and blind spots. A danger zone or blind spot is a place where the driver cannot see, for example, directly in front of the bus, directly behind the bus or near the wheels of the bus. Passengers: travelling in cars Child passengers are safer in the back seat. It is important to sit quietly and not distract driver or other people in the vehicle. The law requires all passengers to: wear a seatbelt or appropriate restraint when travelling in a car (children under seven should be in a correctly fitted booster seat) it will keep the passenger restrained if a vehicle turns sharply, stops suddenly or hits an object or another vehicle keep hands, head and legs inside the car at all times. Seatbelts should be fitted firmly, not touch the neck or be twisted. 3

5 Key road safety messages: continued Cyclists: rider safety Children in Prep Year 1, should always: ride supervised wear a correctly fitted Australian Standards approved helmet (this is the law) ride on footpaths or bicycle paths never on the road. Bicycles must have at least one effective brake and a bell in working order. To carry more than one person, the bicycle must be designed to carry more than one person and each person must wear a helmet. Cyclists must sit astride the seat and keep at least one hand on the handlebars at all times. Unless crossing at traffic lights where there is a bike light, cyclists must get off their bikes to cross the road. Keep left and give way to pedestrians on footpaths and shared-use paths and ride in a manner that does not inconvenience or endanger other footpath users. When riding on a separated path, ride on the side that is designated for cyclists. 4

6 Useful resources for teaching students about road safety The resources listed in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 can support you in planning and delivering road safety education in Queensland schools. With any resource, it is important that you check content to ensure it is suitable for your class group. The principal makes decisions, in consultation with the school community, regarding the inclusion of resources in school-based programs. Figure 1: Resources for teachers texts The following texts may be useful for teachers when developing road safety education programs. Roadsafe Years 1 3 (available in most school libraries and contains the following three books for young children): Hathorn, L The Surprise Visit. Melbourne: VIC Roads. Seatbelts, getting in and out of a car on the kerb side, playing quiet games as a passenger and holding the hand of an adult Wild, M When Penny was Mum. Melbourne: VIC Roads. Safe places to play, roads and footpaths, the correct wearing of bicycle helmets and holding the hand of an adult Smyth, G and Vane, M. Don t Forget the Cheeses, Pa! Holding the hand of an adult, safe places to cross, red and green walking lights and school crossing supervisors Other books which may support the teaching and learning of road safety include: Burningham, J Mr Gumpy s Motor Car. London: Red Fox. Travelling in a car Curry, Peter The Big Red Bus Ride. Picture Lions. Riding on a bus Kovalski, Maryann K The Wheels on the Bus. London: Penguin. Riding on a bus McCuaig, Sandra Bus Fuss. Sydney: Collins Australia. Travelling on public transport Patterson, A. B Mulga Bill s Bicycle. North Ryde: Collins Angus & Robertson Publishers. Bicycle safety 5

7 Figure 2: Resources for teachers website links The following website links may be useful for teachers when developing road safety education programs. Teachers need to be mindful that links from other sites may provide information that conflicts with Queensland policy. Care should be taken when accessing information from these sites. If you require further clarification of Queensland road safety legislation, please contact the Department of Transport and Main Roads. Road rules and traffic signs Search: road rules and traffic signs Colour-in worksheets linking to Prep Year One Road Safe Heroes resource sent to schools in February Search: back to school colouring sheet List of road safety advisors and contact details in each region Note: Look at Contact Us section, By Region Brisbane City Council fact sheet Crossing the Road the Roadstar Way Search: safety programs Injury Bulletin #100 Injury in Primary School Children in Queensland Search: Bulletin #100 The Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia Note: Look at fact sheets Go to: child restraints fact sheet; driveway run-overs fact sheet; pedestrian safety fact sheet Queensland Rail information about railway crossings and further links Note: Look at railway crossings Community information about the wearing of seatbelts Search: seatbelts and child restraints RACQ Streets Ahead Search: Streets Ahead Program 6

8 Figure 3: Resources for teachers website links For more information on walking safely, visit: Pedestrian Council of Australia Walk Safely to School Day Heart Foundation Search on walking TravelSmart Look under schools for walking ideas Safe Walking and Pedalling Program Search on walking Map My Walk Map My Run Queensland Studies Authority Search being active in the outdoors 7

9 Figure 4: Resources for teachers activities The following activities may be useful for teachers when developing road safety education programs. Use road safety songs (see information sheets). Use road safety mats (2D/3D) to demonstrate and practise safe behaviour on the road. Mix and match pair games where students match the child at play with a picture of the safe place for them to play (for example, soccer in the back yard with enclosed fence or supervised at the soccer ground). Arrange for photos to be taken of roads, crossings and particular hazards in and around your local school environment. Have these blown up to poster size to support students understanding of what it means to be safe in their local area. Use a school video recorder to film school students using correct road safety procedures (you may need to check permissions before doing this). Discuss how important it is to listen when in traffic. What do we listen for and where does traffic come from? Discuss danger in the context of fast, slow, near, far, towards, away from, busy and quiet. Mark out different road widths in the playground, in order to model and practise safe crossings. Plan a class walk around the local area, pointing out the local road hazards, different vehicle types, looking at footpath access and having discussions about the shape, colour, words and numbers on the local road signs. Make a traffic mural. Using large pieces of paper, get the students to draw the roads and the footpaths in the nearby school environment. Talk about the lines or marks on the road: where they are; what colour they are and how can you show where the kerb is. Add grass, trees, poles, crossings and signs, pedestrians and traffic to the mural. Invite the local school crossing supervisor to arrange crossing practice for students. Arrange a visit to the train or bus station where students can practise getting on and off the bus or train correctly. 8

10 Figure 5: Resources for teachers PowerPoint presentations, information sheets and teacher stimulus materials The following resources have been developed by the Department of Transport and Main Roads to support school road safety education programs. They can be adapted by teachers to suit the needs of their students. Remember to choose resources that meet the needs of your school, geographical context and your students. Ensure that the appropriate scaffolding of teaching and learning has taken place before using the Worksheets. PowerPoint presentations You may like to choose from the listed PowerPoint presentations or create your own, using images from your local area. Road signs links with Worksheets 1a 1c. Crossing the road safely links with Worksheet 2. Passenger safety links with Worksheet 3. Teacher stimulus resources Road safety: road signs Messages for me Road safety: road signs Messages for me Answer Sheet Road safety: road signs Messages for adults I know Road safety: road signs Messages for adults I know Answer Sheet Road safety: road signs Road safety: road signs Answer Sheet Road safety: crossing the road Road safety: passenger safety Road safety: bicycle safety Road safety: stop, drop, go 9

11 Information sheet: skateboards, rollerblades, foot scooters, pedal cars and tricycles (wheeled recreational devices) Riding skateboards, foot scooters, rollerblades or roller-skates (wheeled recreational devices) is a fun activity and is also another way to increase physical activity levels and improve health. People riding wheeled recreational devices have the same rights and responsibilities as pedestrians. However there are some additional road rules that apply for riders of wheeled recreational devices. These road rules also apply to children under 12 years of age using a wheeled toy such as a pedal car, scooter or tricycle. It is really important when using wheeled recreational devices to obey the road rules (ones for pedestrians and the special ones for wheeled recreational devices) to ensure the safety of yourself and other road users. Use the following tips to ensure that you are skating, scootering or rollerblading safely and legally. Helmets and protective equipment You should wear a correctly fitted and fastened helmet and other protective gear such as knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards to reduce the risk of serious injury or death. Special road rules for wheeled recreational devices When you are riding: you can ride on footpaths, shared paths, bicycle paths and some roads but you must keep to the far left side you must not ride on a road with a dividing line or median strip you must not ride on a one way road with marked lanes you must not ride on a road with a speed limit of more than 60 km/h you must give way to pedestrians on a footpath or shared path you must give way to cyclists on a footpath, bicycle path or the bicycle side of a separated footpath you must not travel on the pedestrian side of a separated footpath you must not hold on to a moving vehicle, or be towed by another vehicle you must not ride on the road at night. You should also be aware that some local councils have special laws that may affect where you can and cannot ride your wheeled recreational device (eg. on busy footpaths). Check with your local council to see if there are any rules that apply where you want to ride. Staying safe when using wheeled recreational devices Ride or skate at a speed that allows you to move safely around others and that is appropriate for the conditions. This means going slower if it is raining or if the path is crowded. If you are going to ride on the road, make sure you have an adult supervising you. Take extra care when riding on rough surfaces, or in wet weather, as you may easily fall. Wear the appropriate safety gear. Wear bright or lightly coloured clothing to increase your visibility. 10

12 Skateboards, rollerblades, foot scooters, pedal cars and tricycles: continued Signs these are some signs you might see when you are riding. Cycling, Pedestrians are scooter riding, not permitted in rollerblading and this area. skateboarding are not permitted on the footpath in this area. Indicates a shared pedestrian and bicycle path. Indicates the end of a shared pedestrian and bicycle path. Indicates separate pedestrian and bicycle paths. Indicates the end of a separated pedestrian and bicycle path. For more information visit: ParentsAndCarers/Rpad+safety+tips+for+children+5-12+years.htm 11

13 Information sheet: road safety song lyrics The Wheels on my Bike Go Round and Round Sung to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round The wheels on my bike go round and round, round and round, round and round The wheels on my bike go round and round In my own back yard I push each pedal and the wheels go round, wheels go round, wheels go round I push each pedal and the wheels go round In my own back yard I move the handle bars and steer the bike, steer the bike, steer the bike I move the handle bars and steer the bike In my own back yard I must wear a helmet when I ride my bike, ride my bike, ride my bike I must wear a helmet when I ride my bike In my own back yard I use the brakes when I need to stop, need to stop, need to stop I use the brakes when I need to stop In my own back yard. The Children in the Car Sung to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round When Rachel is in the car she sits on the seat, on the seat, on the seat When Rachel is in the car she sits on the seat All the way to town When Mike is in the car he buckles up, buckles up, buckles up When Mike is in the car he buckles up All the way to town When Seth is in the car he talks very softly, very softly, very softly When Seth is in the car he talks very softly All the way to town The children in the car don t fight or shout, fight or shout, fight or shout The children in the car don t fight or shout All the way to town. 12

14 Road safety song lyrics: continued Hold My Hand Sung to the tune of Three Blind Mice Hold my hand Hold my hand When we re walking When we re shopping Hold my hand and keep me safe When we re in the street with our happy face Whether we re shopping or whether we re walking Please hold my hand. This is the Way to Cross the Street Sung to the tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush (Children walk around in pairs) This is the way we cross the street, cross the street, cross the street This is the way we cross the street Any time of day (Children walk, holding hands) This is the way I hold your hand, hold your hand, hold your hand This is the way I hold your hand Any time of day (Children stop on cue) This is the way we stop at the kerb, stop at the kerb, stop at the kerb This is the way we stop at the kerb Any time of day (Hands point to eyes then look both ways) This is the way we look for traffic, look for traffic, look for traffic This is the way we look for traffic Any time of day (Hands point to ears then children listen) This is the way we listen for traffic, listen for traffic, listen for traffic This is the way we listen for traffic Any time of day. I m a Little Seatbelt Sung to the tune of I m a Little Teapot I m a little seatbelt firm and strong I stay buckled up as we drive along When we get to Grandma s, then I shout Unbuckle me please, so I can hop out. 13

15 Road safety song lyrics: continued My Seatbelt Sung to the tune of My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean My seatbelt fits over my shoulder My seatbelt fits over my lap Before the old car starts a-moving I do my belt up with a clap Actions: Put seatbelt over shoulder and lap. Clap hands loudly on the word clap My seatbelt feels strong when it s on me My seatbelt makes me feel safe My seatbelt will help to protect me I must make sure my seatbelt is in place Actions: Put seatbelt over shoulder and lap. Clap hands loudly on the words make sure my seatbelt is in place. Seatbelt Song Sung to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Twinkle twinkle little pup I always do my seatbelt up Even if we re going slow I must stay safe, you know! Twinkle twinkle little pup I always do my seatbelt up. How Many Seatbelts? Sung to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Twinkle twinkle little star There are lots of seatbelts in my car We put them on and click in place Travelling near or far, they keep us safe One for Keenan and one for Lee One for Jack and one for ME! 14

16 Road safety song lyrics: continued On our Way to School Sung to the tune of Row, Row, Row Your Boat Tim is in the car and buckled up And he is ready to go His baby brother is in his capsule He s on his way to school Mike is walking with his friend, Kate They re heading off to school They walk across the pedestrian crossing On their way to school Skye is catching the bus today She holds hands with brother Zac Hats on and obeying the rules On their way to school Gareth and friends are riding their bikes They come to a pedestrian crossing Off their bikes, and walk across On their way to school. Emma s Friends Safety Song Sung to the tune of Mary had a Little Lamb Chelsea has a little bike, little bike, little bike Chelsea has a little bike She keeps her helmet on And Kade he likes to rollerblade, rollerblade, rollerblade Kade he likes to rollerblade He keeps his helmet on Tom is into skateboarding, skateboarding, skateboarding Tom is into skateboarding He keeps his helmet on Emma just likes to watch her friends, watch her friends, watch her friends Emma just likes to watch her friends Under the shade of a close-by tree. 15

17 Road safety song lyrics: continued Keenan s Travel Safety Song Sung to the tune of If You re Happy and You Know It I make sure the bus has stopped before I get on I make sure the bus has stopped before I get on I make sure the bus has stopped I make sure the bus has stopped I make sure the bus has stopped before I get on I wait for the bus to move away before I cross I wait for the bus to move away before I cross I wait for the bus to move away I wait for the bus to move away I wait for the bus to move away before I cross Mum or Dad always walks with me to school Mum or Dad always walks with me to school They walk with me to keep me safe They know I m little and need some help Mum or Dad always walks with me to school When I m riding my bike, I wear a helmet When I m riding my bike I wear a helmet When I m riding my bike When I m riding my bike When I m riding my bike, I wear a helmet I wait for the train behind the yellow line I wait for the train behind the yellow line I wait for the train I wait for the train I wait for the train behind the yellow line. 16