Sussex Safer Roads Partnership Issues Back-to-School Road Safety Advice for Children

As schools in Worthing reopen today, the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership has provided guidance aimed at enhancing the safety of children walking to school.

The focus is particularly on older children, around the age of 12, who are beginning to make independent journeys.

The partnership highlighted that serious road incidents involving children tend to peak between 3pm and 7pm, coinciding with after-school hours. Parents are encouraged to evaluate their child’s readiness to walk to school alone based on factors such as the environment, the distance to school, and the child’s confidence level. Rehearsing the route with the child, discussing potential hazards, and practising safe crossing strategies are recommended methods for building their confidence.

Parents are also advised to shift from merely instructing their children on road rules to engaging them in discussions that promote independent thinking about safety. Topics such as identifying safe crossing points and avoiding distractions, like mobile devices and earphones, are crucial for children’s awareness and safety on their journeys to and from school.