Many children may have been let loose in their environment when school holidays have started. Mostly, they are under parental control, but many parents do have to go and work. Some could be walking, cycling, or even skateboarding on a local street or road. So, never mind the potholes to look out for – children on the road are an additional issue to bear in mind. You can follow some tips as a motorist to ensure that your little loved ones are safe.1
Know where you are driving1
Become particularly aware of children when driving through a residential area and adjust your speed accordingly. Be ready for any youngster to come into the road chasing a soccer ball.
Can children cross a road safely? 1
A US study revealed that children up to and including 14-year-olds do not have their faculties and muscle coordination fully developed. As a result, their perception of the speed of an approaching car is not accurate, and they may find it difficult to avoid impending disaster physically. In other words, they have trouble crossing a road safely.
Give wider berth to children1
A managing director of MasterDrive advised that motorists should give a wider berth to a child on a bicycle when passing, as they are not steady. Travelling slowly in your car allows you to have enough time to react should a child suddenly appear in front of your vehicle. Even at 40 km/hr, you are covering 11 metres, or the equivalent of 2 car lengths in one second.
Some more precautionary steps1
What about reversing out of your property? Often, we can be in a hurry and are not checking the side and rear mirrors. Modern cars have rear detectors that make a noise when someone is getting too close. When approaching a blind corner, be extra slow and alert, as you could suddenly come upon some children trying to cross the road.
What about stationary buses or parked cars? 1
Beware of children or adults suddenly crossing the road from the blind side of a bus or car. Motorists should exercise great care when moving around in open parking lots or shopping malls. Passengers are disembarking all the time, and sometimes, parents are busy locking the car while children are running around. Some motorists travel far too fast in such areas, causing accidents.
Avoid any distraction1
You may be fiddling with the radio, or deeply involved in a stressful cell phone conversation, and the next thing you see is a child in front of your car. When you arrive at a stop sign at an intersection, look around carefully because some children may suddenly shoot across at the last minute.
This article is about protecting our little ones on the road, but have you considered protecting your car with excellent car insurance cover? If you have existing car insurance cover, is it adequate? If you are uncertain, contact PMD and learn more about their affordable car insurance products.
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This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.