The overall aim of road safety education is to reduce death and injury to children on and around New Zealand roads.

What is RoadSense? RoadSense is a national professional development and support strategy for primary and intermediate schools, funded by Land Transport New Zealand. It builds on and supports the work being done by Police Education Officers. The aim is to reduce death and injury of children on and around New Zealand roads.

RoadSense RoadSense involves two years of support for schools from regions with high rates of road incidents and injuries.

New Zealand’s Roads are Dangerous Places for Children Road crashes are a leading cause of death and injury for children between 0 and 15.

Frightening Statistics! In 2005 31 children aged 14 and under were killed on the road. Of these 17 were passengers, 5 were pedestrians, 1 was a cycle rider, 3 were a motorcycle riders, 1 was a pillion, and 4 were other road users. In 2005 1147 children aged 14 and under were injured on the road. Of these 598 were passengers, 282 were pedestrians, 170 were cycle riders 11 were motorcycle drivers, 9 were pillions, 26 were drivers and 51 were other road users. Often these accidents occur on the way to or home from, school. Schools and teachers become intimately involved in the repercussions. Ministry of Transport (2006) Motor Vehicle Crashes in New Zealand 2005

“Children learn road skills best: In a social context, In real world situations, Through discovery and problem solving At their own pace and with Positive feedback from a caring adult.” Barry Elliot, 2000

Effective Road Safety Education According to the Rose 25 report, effective road safety education is seen as the: promotion of knowledge and understanding of traffic rules and situations improvement of skills through training and experience strengthening and/or changing attitudes towards risk awareness, personal safety and the safety of other road users.

Where Does RoadSense Fit? RoadSense fits primarily under Health and Physical Education. It can be integrated in a number of contexts, and delivered through a variety of teaching approaches. The Police Road Safe Series units can be built into team planning (perhaps in a half-yearly cycle). Police Education Officers can assist with planning and teaching practical sections.

Ways to Create a Road Safety Culture Include road safety in the school’s strategic plan/long term overview. Include regular road safety education is included long-term curriculum plans. Have policies and procedures on road safety issues. Work with other road safety agencies and resources, such as RoadSense facilitators, Police Education Officers, Road Safety Coordinators and ACC. Include road safety messages in school communications. Keep the Board of Trustees informed and up to date with road safety initiatives in school (this could be part of annual Health Curriculum report to the BOT).

Ways to Engage the School Community. Liaise with parent groups, such as the PTA, bilingual and whanau groups. Address road safety at new entrant meetings for parents. Include information about road safety in newsletters. Place road safety messages on school or community notice boards, using other languages where necessary. Make contact with other local schools, early childhood centres and community groups, to share information and ideas about road safety. Church schools have an opportunity to link with their wider church congregations.

To and From School. Review procedures at the gate to ensure that children are safe. Regularly remind students and parents of how to get to and from school safely. Encourage students to travel to and from school on foot, bicycle or public transport, rather than car, which will result in enhanced safety from less vehicle congestion. Consider forming Walking School Buses. Take part in initiatives such as Walk to School Week. Acknowledge the work of your School Traffic Safety Teams.

The Snapshot The Action Plan The Review Where are we now? The Vision Where do we want to be? The Action Plan How will get there? The Review How did we do and what next?

RoadSense Facilitator Role Assist the school to implement road safety education by working with principals and teachers to develop a sustainable road safety culture.