Road Safety - Keeping Children Safe

Assalamu'alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

Dear brothers and sisters,

We kindly request for the community to be aware and responsible when at Taqwa School, especially in the car parks and the roads near the school. Below are some tips to raise awareness in the commmunity.

Keeping Children Safe

Children are more at risk than adults around schools because they are smaller and less visible to motorists. They are also less predictable and less experienced, which makes them more likely to
make errors of judgement.

Failing to follow simple road rules increases the risk to children around schools. While schools can
become congested during the peak times, illegal driving and parking behaviours are not acceptable
as it increases the risk of injury for children.

Parking Operations regularly patrol school zones to support school communities to promote safe
behaviours and keep children safe. Please do the right thing to create a safe environment around
our school.

Crossing Safely

Teaching children to cross the road safely is an important life skill. Children’s crossings are provided
near schools to make it safer and easier for children to access the school. Children should be taught
to make sure motorists completely stop prior to stepping onto the road.

When driving and parking around the school, please keep a look out for pedestrians when
approaching the crossing and remember to stop and allow pedestrians to clear the road completely
prior to proceeding.

Never park on the approach to the crossing, it reduces visibility and safety, particularly for children
who are less visible to motorists. It is also important that motorists never try to pass other cars at a
crossing or queue through a crossing, this type of behaviour significantly reduces safety for children.
More information is available in this children’s crossing information sheet. Please drive slowly and be
patient near the school to keep our community safe.

Slow Down to Keep Children Safe

School environments are busy during the peak periods, please remember to slow down and be alert
for other motorists and pedestrians, particularly children.

If you use the school car park to collect children, please only drive at walking speed (10km/h) and be
on the lookout for children. Motorists are also encouraged to drive at a safe speed on the road,
which may be well below 40km/h during the peak periods.

Children aren’t necessarily predictable and can be easily distracted when they are with friends or
excited to see mum or dad, so they might not be watching out for you.

Children are welcome to wait safely near the front office until you arrive, so please remember to
drive slowly and take care even when you are running a few minutes late.