Watching out for our children

Children are vulnerable road users. Their physical size and developmental limitations place them at risk in the traffic environment.

Drivers are less likely to be able to see a small child and it is harder for children to see oncoming traffic. Their lack of road experience means it is difficult for children to judge dangerous situations. Children’s safety to and from school is an important road safety issue.

In an effort to reduce the potential risks to children travelling to and from school an extensive school safety upgrade package is planned.

This package includes the school ‘Drop-off and Pick-up’ student marshalling initiative, which has been tested in two schools in NSW. The initiative aims to provide parents and carers with a safe environment to drop-off and pick-up their children from school by car.

All schools are encouraged to consider implementing the initiative to enhance child safety.

Support will be given to schools by:

• Providing ‘Drop-off and Pick-up’ signs for No Parking zones outside the school.
• Providing promotional material to support the initiative.

How the ‘Drop-off and Pick-up’ initiative works at schools

The ‘Drop-off and Pick-up’ initiative utilises existing No Parking areas at schools. The area, always on the school side of the road, provides a facility that is convenient for drivers and an environment that enhances children’s safety. Parents and carers are able to legally drop-off or pick-up their children within a two minute timeframe while a volunteer adult supervisor assists the children into or out of the car.

The initiative allows:

• Drivers to drop-off or pick-up students legally at very busy times at the beginning and end of the school day.
• A volunteer adult supervisor to marshal the students who take part in the initiative at the designated school gate.
• The driver to pull into the ‘Drop-off and Pick-up’ zone and remain in control of the vehicle while a volunteer adult supervisor assists the school student to exit or enter the vehicle.

Advantages of the ‘Drop-off and Pick-up’ initiative

A ‘Drop-off and Pick-up’ initiative has advantages for child road safety because it:

• Provides a designated zone at a school access point for drivers to stop and drop-off or pick-up their children.
• Relieves traffic congestion around the school by ensuring cars do not park illegally.
• Provides adult supervision for students being dropped off and picked up from school by car.
• Allows smaller children to remain secured in the car while school age children are dropped off and picked up from school.
• Reinforces road safety messages and safe passenger behaviours to parents and children.

Thinking of setting up an initiative?

Schools need to:

• Ensure their school community supports the initiative.
• Consult with the local council to determine if the school environment is suitable for the initiative to operate.
• Establish a roster of volunteers to be zone supervisors.
• Develop policies and procedures to administer the initiative.
• Fully understand all issues regarding liability in respect of students and volunteers.

Testimonials

Fiona
User
Shell Cove Public School

Our family has been really pleased at the simple and effective implementation of the Drop-off & Pick-up initiative at Shell Cove Public School.

Beyond the obvious benefits of improved road safety and traffic efficiency around the school at 3pm, we are also delighted at the level of independence it has allowed our 7 year old daughter to achieve. 

Drop-off & Pick-up encourages the children to keep road safety rules in mind - especially since the introduction of the painted yellow box on the footpath where the children must stand and wait. Our daughter knows to walk from her class to the footpath and stay 'in the box' until our car pulls up.
It is also very convenient for me as I have a small baby and I can avoid having to get her out of the car, especially on rainy days.

The system also teaches the children cooperation and patience as they wait their turn and are then called by an adult. Further, we feel it encourages a greater sense of "community" at the school through meeting parent volunteers and seeing the Principal assisting in the afternoons.

Kerry Ballard
Volunteer
Drop-off & Pick-up initiative, Shell Cove Public School

Prior to the Drop-off & Pick-up initiative being introduced to our school, people were parking in the No Parking Zone and congesting the entire area.

The congestion and frustration of the drivers meant there was no order. Cars were everywhere and there was a real possibility a pedestrian could be hit by a car, particularly since the school has grown in size from 180 students to over 300.

Since the introduction of the initiative the road outside the school is organised. The children know what to do, where to stand and the parents understand the rules. New parents are inducted into the scheme as part of their orientation program.

The scheme takes about ten minutes of my time one afternoon per week and makes a huge difference to the safety of the children. I choose a day to volunteer that suits my family and me. There are usually two volunteers per afternoon.

Parents don’t have to get out of their car, which means you don’t have to wake younger siblings. 

The scheme is quick easy and effective. The kids are safer and they are in their parent’s cars and away from the school in next to no time.

Ian Hamilton
Principal
Wallsend South Public School

At Wallsend South PS the Pick up and Go system is a very positive school program.

It efficently and safely exits a large number of children from the school, while reflecting the values of patience, respect, consideration and gratitude that are emphasized within the school.

It provides an extremely positive, although brief interaction with parents who are most grateful for the program.