This National School Safety Week, Oct. 17-23, the Canada Safety Council encourages young pedestrians and cyclists to dress brightly to be seen, according to a written statement.
As light levels drop, drivers have more difficulty seeing pedestrians and cyclists on the road, says Jack Smith, president of the council, an independent, knowledge-based, charitable organization dedicated to the cause of safety, in the press release. Wearing bright colours and retro-reflective material can help you stay safe while walking and cycling, he adds. September to November tend to be the worst months of the year for young pedestrians getting hit by motor vehicles. The riskiest time of the day for pedestrians and cyclists to be on the road is in late afternoon, at night, and in dim light conditions when they are less visible to drivers.
Any time a car needs its headlights, visibility can be improved by wearing clothing with retro-reflective markings. Retro-reflective materials bounce light back towards the light source, so they will appear very bright and stand out from the background when headlights shine on them.
Research shows that pedestrians and cyclists wearing retro-reflective materials are more likely to be seen and recognized by drivers. The best place to sport retro-reflective markings is on the arms and legs.
To help kids be bright and be seen, the Canada Safety Council is offering a limited number of retro-reflective crafting kits to interested teachers and children's group leaders. A retro-reflective craft activity can help launch a wider discussion with youth around pedestrian and cycling safety. Email csc@safety-council.org or call 613-739-1535 to order your kit. Teachers and children's group leaders' names will be entered into a contest to win a 3M product gift basket compliments of the company.
Also, kids can challenge the adults in their lives to a friendly road safety quiz posted on the council's Elmer the Safety Elephant website at elmer.ca.
The following are some pedestrian safety tips for kids:
1. Be bright: Wear clothing with retro-reflective patches and make sure your bicycle has reflectors and a light.
2. Ensure drivers have seen you before you step off the curb by making eye contact.
3. Leave the phone alone and turn down the tunes when crossing the street.
4. If there is no sidewalk, use the left side of the road facing traffic.
5. And of course, look all ways before crossing a street, driveway or alley.
For more information, visit canadasafetycouncil.org.
