Published: Friday, 21st August 2020

Medway Council has issued some top road safety tips as children across Medway prepare to go back to school in September.

With children and young people of all ages set to return to the classroom in September, some schools may stagger their start and finishing times to ensure current social distancing guidelines can be followed when children are dropped off and picked up from school.

This could mean that there will be more children walking and riding their bikes for longer periods of time. Medway Council’s Road Safety Team is encouraging residents to follow these road safety tips to help keep Medway’s roads safe:

  • Be alert - avoid distractions such as wearing headphones and using mobile phones whilst walking and cycling
  • Be prepared - if walking, make sure you have walked the route with your child before the first day of school and, where possible, use wider pavements and controlled crossing points to make social distancing easier
  • Take extra care – the school run and morning commute can be hectic – allow extra time so you don’t feel rushed
  • Follow the rules of the road – although we are all getting used to the new normal, the rules of the road remain the same. Encourage children to stop, look, listen and think when crossing the road in a safe place and hold younger children’s hands
  • Wear bright and reflective clothing – if walking or cycling wear fluorescent or reflective clothing to ensure you’re seen by motorists, cyclists and other pedestrians
  • If cycling, make sure your bike is road worthy and wear a helmet

Medway’s Road Safety Team works with schools throughout the year on active travel initiatives such as Walk Once a Week, bikeability training and walk to school month in October.

Take extra care when you travel

Cllr Phil Filmer, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Frontline Services, said: “As children and young people return to school it is important to ensure that we all remain safe on Medway’s roads. We all have a duty to behave responsibly and follow the rules of the road. I would encourage all residents to follow our top tips and take extra care when they travel.”

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