Take care on roads, parents warned

SAFETY has been urged on the roads as thousands of children return to school this week.

As thousands of extra vehicles carrying pupils rejoin the morning and evening traffic, the National Safety Council (NSC) and the Automobile Association appealed to parents to make road safety top of their children’s back-to-school list.

According to National Roads Authority figures, 110 children under the age of 14 were killed and 4,115 were injured on Irish roads between 1998 and 2002.

Conor Faughnan of the AA said children are probably most vulnerable when they are travelling to and from school.

“Almost two-thirds of children killed or injured on our roads between 1998 and 2002 were car passengers.

“Parents and guardians should ensure that children sit in the rear of the car and use an appropriate child restraint for every journey, no matter how short,” he said.

NSC chairman Eddie Shaw said the increase in traffic and more children using the roads lead to more risks. “Parents are best placed to teach children about road safety. But remember a child will do as you do, not as you say, so please set a good example yourself,” he said.

The National Parents Council (Primary) last night called for plans to be put in place in communities to allow most children walk or cycle to school safely.

“Parents have been expressing concern to us about recent reports of the increasing numbers of Irish children who are unfit and overweight,” said council chief executive Fionnuala Kilfeather.

“It’s time for parents to take matters in hand. Let’s get walking and get our families walking and see what a difference we can make,” she said.

While most of the country’s 4,000 primary and second-level schools reopen tomorrow, thousands of children had an early start yesterday and this morning.