Friday 15th May is Walk Safely to School Day, an annual, national event when all Primary School children will be encouraged to walk and commute safely to school. It is a community event seeking to promote road safety, health, public transport and the environment.
The objectives of WSTSD are:
- To encourage parents and carers to walk to school with primary school age children and reinforce safe pedestrian behaviour.
- To promote the health benefits of walking and help create regular walking habits at an early age.
- To ensure that children up to 10 years old hold an adult's hand when crossing the road.
- To help children develop the vital road-crossing skills they will need as they become mature pedestrians.
- To reduce the car dependency habits that are being created at an early age and which will be difficult to change as children become adults.
- To promote the use of Public Transport.
- To reduce the level of air pollution created by motor vehicles.
- To reduce the level of traffic congestion.
The event is proudly sponsored by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.
It is supported by the Australian Government, all State, Territory Governments and Local Governments and the Heart Foundation, Cancer Council, Diabetes Australia, Planet Ark and beyondblue: the national depression initiative.
For more information visit www.walk.com.au