Today the schools have opened!
Our children will pour into the streets with the school bag on their backs and plenty of energy from the summer!
However, before we send our children to school, we should keep in mind that, based on data from the World Health Organization, children are the most vulnerable road users, as road accidents are the 2nd cause of death worldwide for the ages of 5-14 years (Learn about safe school trips).
For this reason it is necessary to teach our children from a very early age how to behave on the street bearing in mind that we teach them not only with our words, but mainly with our example.
These are the basic rules of traffic education that we must teach our children
A. Traffic education rules for children
When we walk on the street :
– We always walk on the sidewalk.
If there is no sidewalk, we walk on the side of the road and on the contrary in the direction of the vehicles so that we can see them and see us better.
– When we want to pass across, we always choose the point where there is a traffic light or a pedestrian crossing.
– We stand before the yellow line of the pavement and, if there is not one, one step before the edge of the pavement.
– At the traffic light: With green for pedestrians we pass, with red we stop.
– If there is no traffic light, check very carefully: we look left, right and left again to make sure that no vehicle passes by.
– Cross the road vertically and not diagonally.
Passing vertically we reach the opposite sidewalk faster and thus we reduce the time we are exposed to the roadway.
– We carefully cross the road. We are not running, nor are we lingering.
– We don't play in the street.
There is a risk that we will be hit by a vehicle that is passing by at that moment.
– We wear light-colored clothes or clothes with reflective – fluorescent strips to be visible to the drivers of the vehicles especially after sunset (Learn now why the pedestrian is the "easiest victim" at night on Greek roads).
– We respect the instructions of the traffic policeman.
– We choose the safest and not the shortest route to school.
B. Traffic education rules for children
When we cycle:
– We choose the right size of bicycle for our age.
– We make sure that our bike is in good condition, i.e. that the lights, the brakes, the bell are working and the tires are good.
– We make sure that our bike has front light, back light and reflective elements on the wheel beams and the petals so that we can be visible at night (Learn now why night driving is considered the 51st shade of gray)."
– Wear a special protective helmet.
– We wear light-colored clothes and a safety vest with reflexes – fluorescent elements.
– We drive on the right side of the road and hold the steering wheel with both hands.
– We do not transfer things or other persons (e.g. our friends).
– We drive carefully, at low speed and we apply the Highway Code – K.O.K., for example we stop at the traffic light and the Stop sign ( Find out what is the correct safety distance between two vehicles with numbers).
– We do not "fight" with our classmates.
– We do not ride our bike on busy roads, because we are in danger of drivers, who may be careless.
– When for any reason we face a problem while riding the bicycle (e.g. fatigue or difficult traffic conditions), we get off it and carefully continue as pedestrians.
C. Traffic education rules for children
When we are in the car :
– We always sit in the rear seats in the special seat.
– We never sit in the passenger seat or in the arms of another person, even if it is our parent.
– Always wear the seat belt.
– We do not stand up in the car and do not take our hands or head out the window.
– We are quiet and do not shout, because we may scare or irritate the driver and make a wrong decision.
– We enter and get out of the car from the side of the pavement.
We must not forget that the most important rule is to respect other road users.
If you parents follow these simple rules of traffic education in your daily life, you can be sure that your children will also adopt them. Your own responsible behavior is the best lesson!
Happy school year !!!