Roads and transport Road safety - the roles we play

School role

 

Schools have a vital role to play in raising road safety awareness for pupils, staff, parents and the wider community.  

The school's role is to provide the knowledge and understanding that is essential to the children's safety.

Schools should aim to:

  • teach children about road safety and provide opportunities for them to practise it in real-life situations;
  • remind parents to consider others when taking their children to and from school; and 
  • promote walking and cycling to school and the safety measures involved in these activities.

Schools should also develop working partnerships with agencies such as the police, health promotion units and us, as we aim to share good practice with other local schools.

Schools across the country have tackled problems such as dangerous school run parking and irresponsible driving, using a variety of creative methods.

Ideas to try at your school include:

  • Ask staff to wear hi-vis vests at the school gates; statistics show definite improvement in parents' driving and road awareness on days when there's a presence;
  • Get involved in national campaigns such as Road Safety Week each November;
  • Identify issues that prevent some people from walking and target these eg: personal safety advice, safe routes and pedestrian skills training;
  • Where possible, provide a bike store;
  • Encourage parents to walk to school with their children, at least part of the way, or walk together as a 'walking bus';
  • Offer class based activities for half an hour before the start of the school day, so that the drop off time is longer and, therefore, less busy around the school gates;
  • Make sure that school buses, coaches and delivery vans avoid parking on the zigzag lines or crossings; or
  • Educate parents during open days and through the school's admissions process, and consider creating a Safer Parking Charter that parents can sign up to.
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