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As the government starts to introduce a phased return to schools, children and parents are being encouraged to walk or cycle to and from school.

Walking and cycling to school are sustainable forms of transport that also help reduce congestion around schools. They also have health benefits for children and parents alike.

To ensure that children can do this as safely as possible, Kent County Council’s Road Safety Team would like to remind drivers to take extra care and prepare for the increase in children on the roads.

Fewer people have been on our roads since lockdown began and traffic levels have been at about 60% of what they normally would be. However, with schools beginning to go back, traffic levels will increase.

What’s more, children will now be walking or cycling to school alongside other parents driving their children, and general traffic will be thrown into the mix – drivers need to slow down, be patient, expect journey times to take longer so allow more time and stay alert to other road users particularly as some drivers will be re-adjusting to driving, having not driven for a long time.

As human error is a factor in 95% of crashes on our roads we want everyone to share our roads safely because one mistake or a moment’s inattention can have tragic consequences.

There are also tips that parents can promote to children including...

• Using the Road Safety Code to cross the road (Stop, look, listen, think)
• Looking for safer places to cross (eg zebra crossings, puffin crossings)
• Removing distractions such as mobile phones

Kent County Council’s Road Safety team has also been putting together age appropriate lessons that children can enjoy whether they are at home or in school. They include children in Tears 1 to 3 are invited to become ‘Road Safety Superheroes’ by completing different road safety challenges.

The team is also working on lessons for other Primary age groups which will be added in the coming weeks.

The lessons involve the following...

• Reception: A story about Kip the Bear and his scooter which introduces young children to road safety.
• Years 4 to 5: A lesson about distractions, where children are invited to think about what can distract us as pedestrians, and what we can do to prevent them.
• Year 6: A lesson that focuses on transitioning to secondary school, and how we can plan our journeys as safely as possible.

With the lessons being in video format, parents or teachers can pause the lesson at any point to allow for further discussion, to find the lessons go onto the Kent Road Safety Website.