Plunket’s top tips for keeping kids safe

Plunket’s top tips for keeping kids safe this Road Safety Week

Plunket has released five top tips to help keep kids safe on New Zealand’s streets this Road Safety Week (8-14 May).

Plunket National Safety Advisor Sue Campbell says Road Safety Week is a great opportunity to support communities to make safer choices.

“For Plunket, supporting families and communities to understand risk, whether it’s on the road or in the home, is a vital part of reducing accident and injury,” Sue Campbell says.

“Kids don’t have the same radar for risk as adults. Parent know kids move quickly, without a lot of warning and don’t always pay attention to where they’re going. Children are small and sometimes difficult to spot, which means small mistakes can be fatal.”

To reduce the risk on the road Plunket has put together five top tips for keeping kids safe:

1) Car seats save lives

It’s really important children have the right car seat for their age and size so they can be buckled in and safe for every journey. If you’re unsure about the correct car seat for your child check out the educational resources provided on the New Zealand Transport Agency website here.

2) Look out for Early Childhood Centres

Most people understand they need to lower their speed around schools, but Early Childhood Centres are not always as well marked. Look out for Early Childhood Centres in your community and take extra care around them.

3) Make road safety fun

There are plenty of tips and tricks for teaching your children about road safety online. Brake Aoteaora New Zealand also have some activity ideas teaching children about road safety here.

4) Know where children are before getting in the car

Small children can’t be easily seen from inside a vehicle. Know where they are – check and check again before you pull out.

5) Stay with your child

Always hold your child’s hand and let your child walk on the house side of the footpath. Children learn from what you do, so be a good road safety model.

This year, the focus of Road Safety Week is save lives #SlowDown to align with UN Road Safety Week. Plunket would love to hear your safety tips. Message us on Facebook at or on Twitter @PlunketNZ.

Background

World Road Safety Week (8-14 May) is a United Nations initiative that aims to increase global road safety awareness and decrease the number of road traffic related injuries each year.

About Plunket

For over a century Plunket has supported New Zealand parents to nurture healthy, happy kiwi babies.

Plunket is a not-for-profit organisation and is New Zealand’s largest provider of services to support the health and development of children under five.

Plunket is dedicated to working with parents and communities to ensure that New Zealand children get the best start in life. Plunket’s services help families nationwide, through over 300 branches, mobile clinics and a free phone service PlunketLine, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (0800 933 922).

Plunket services are available free to families in New Zealand with children aged 0 to 5. As registered nurses with a postgraduate qualification, Plunket nurses are able to offer high standards of expertise and a range of services to families.

For more information visit plunket.org.nz

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