The Institute of Advanced Motorists has issued advice to drivers to coincide with the start of the autumn school term.
Most schools will see the return of their pupils this week and this means an increased number of children around the roads, particularly during rush hour. The road safety charity has issued some pointers to help drivers ensure that they and pedestrians remain safe. The traditional distractions of footballs and games have now been joined by modern distractions such as smart phones and headphones.
Neil Greig, IAM Director of Policy and Research said: “Technology has moved on at such a pace, it is clear that youngsters are being distracted by the myriad of portable entertainment devices available to them."
The IAM offer the following tips:
Don’t compromise your concentration and the safety of other road users by being in a hurry. Leaving the house five minutes earlier changes the nature of how you make the journey.
Take extra care to compensate for the fact that children won’t always be paying attention, especially when approaching the school gate.
Never stop on the yellow “zig zags” by the school gate, and always ensure you let your passengers out on the pavement side.
Roads surrounding schools are usually 20 mph- it’s essential that you slow down and keep an eye out for children crossing the road and emerging from between parked cars.
New starters in reception class are unlikely to understand the dangers that the road outside their school presents – bear this in mind when driving nearby and keep your eyes peeled for children wandering into the road alone.
If your children are walking to school on their own, make sure they are aware of potential hazards such as crossing busy roads – encourage them to always use the pedestrian crossing if there is one.
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