As school begins again, the children of Moose Jaw will pour out of their homes and occupy the streets — if you are driving a vehicle anywhere near these unpredictable little creatures, keep these tips in mind.
One of the great things about Moose Jaw is its size. It takes less than 10 minutes to get anywhere in the city. With that in mind, the analysis of the benefit vs the risk of driving fast with children nearby should be easy.
Being late by five minutes does not compare to hitting a child with a car.
Children can have narrow attention spans. They might have been taught all about traffic safety rules and procedures, but if they are distracted, they might still behave unpredictably.
By slowing down to 40 km/h — even before the school zone — drivers will give themselves more space and time to react to the behaviour of the city’s youth.
Tips for parents
Make sure your child knows the route well, including staying in easily visible areas. Weaving in and out of parked cars makes it difficult for motorists to see small children, so parking lots and parked cars should be avoided.
Dress your child in bright clothing, and make sure raincoats have reflective strips on them. In poor conditions, a small figure dressed in dark clothing might as be invisible to a driver peering through a rainy windshield.
The most important part of crossing the road is eye contact. Teach your children to look for the gaze of the person driving the car. A wave is both a way to be sure the driver sees them and a friendly gesture not many will fail to return. Make sure children know that listening is also essential — noise-canceling earbuds or headphones are not for crossing busy streets.
Set a good example: Research has consistently shown that children learn more from what is modeled to them — what they see you doing — than from what they are told.
A cautious parent with obvious care and respect for the danger that motor vehicles represent makes a big impression. If you are the type to take chances, on the other hand, no amount of lecturing may be enough to ingrain safer behaviour.
Do not post identifying details on social media
The Moose Jaw Police Service is cautioning parents against the trend of sharing images with identifying information.
To increase the safety of your little ones, do not post images which include the name of your child’s school, or their age or grade or the address of their favourite playground.
Take such photos in hard-to-place locations — no visible street signs or obvious landmarks.
Bump your privacy settings to the maximum when posting on social media. Restrict sharing to friends whose accounts you recognize.
Follow the Moose Jaw Police Service and the Moose Jaw Fire Department on Facebook to see their safety advisories promptly.
