Kids crossing roads

Julie Neighbourly Lead from Havelock North

I know it seems like a nice thing to do, and you may feel it’s safer for the kids, but please don’t stop in intersections and roundabouts to let them cross.

They need to learn they don’t have right of way, or they will keep just walking/biking/scootering out without stopping, because they believe everyone else will stop. And that puts them at risk.

Unless people are on the road already, traffic only gives way at pedestrian crossings. And the speed bumps in the centre of the village are not pedestrian crossings.

Zebra crossings, patrolled crossings and traffic light controlled crossings are. Anything else is either a speed bump or a courtesy crossing/safety break.

If it’s not marked with lights, signs or lines, pedestrians wait for traffic.

Kids, and a lot of adults, need to get back to basics “Stop, Look, Listen, Look again, Wait for traffic, Cross”.

And if you don’t want your kids to rush out into the road, don’t do it yourselves. Cross at pedestrian crossings, not down the road, and “SLLWC”. Kids see, kids do.