Police road-safety appeal before the summer holidays
The summer break has begun, more children are out on the streets, and traffic police are urging drivers to take extra care. Last year nine people died on the roads in the days before the holidays.
- Primary school pupils have been on holiday since June 12, secondary pupils start on June 19, and the break runs until August 31.
- Last year, nine people died on the roads in the days just before the break.
- Traffic police are urging drivers to take care in built-up areas and near pedestrian crossings.
- The message to parents: before your child heads out, go over the basic traffic rules together.
Have you noticed that the street outside your building is suddenly busier than it was in May? The reason is simple. The summer break has started, so more children are on the pavements, in playgrounds and at crossings than at any other time of year.
The Interior Ministry has issued an appeal to drivers for exactly this reason. Primary school pupils have been free since June 12, secondary pupils start on June 19, and the school bells stay quiet until August 31. That is almost three months in which children spend far more time outdoors, often without an adult nearby.
The figure the police point to is not a small one. Last year, nine people died on the roads over the weekend and in the days right before the break. So this summer the message is not a warning for its own sake. It is a reminder that a few seconds of attention behind the wheel really does save lives.
What can drivers do starting today?
Most of the responsibility falls on those behind the wheel, and that is no accident. A child chasing a ball does not think about braking distance. The driver has to.
Above all, traffic police are asking for care in built-up areas and near pedestrian crossings. In practice that means easing off the accelerator as you approach a school zone, a park or a playground, even when you cannot see anyone. Children appear from between parked cars faster than you expect.
Then there is the part that comes up every year and still matters. No phone in your hand while you drive, and not a single drink before you get behind the wheel. Adjust your speed to the road, not to what the sign allows. If you are carrying a child, the car seat and the seatbelt are not optional, and they need to be fitted correctly for the child’s age and height.
Our advice is to check your tyres and brakes before any longer trip to the coast or back home. A quick inspection before you set off is cheaper than the alternative.
How can you prepare for the break with your children?
Here parents play a role no one else can. A five-minute conversation is worth more than any ban.
Before your child goes out alone, walk through the basic rules together. Where to cross the road, why you look left then right then left again, and why you stop at a crossing even when the light is green. If your child rides a bike or scooter, a helmet and proper gear come first, and riding on the pavement and in the park, away from the road, comes second.
It also helps for children to understand that a driver does not always see them, especially from a large vehicle. That makes it clearer why they should never dart across the road or play behind parked cars.
The ministry summed up its message in one sentence: children’s safety is everyone’s responsibility. It does not rest on the police alone, or on parents alone, but on everyone who gets behind the wheel or crosses the street this summer.
The summer break should be a time for carefree play, not for worry. What are you doing to make the street outside your building safer for children this summer?
