Road safety top tips are being issued ahead of thousands of Medway pupils returning to school in September.

As young people prepare to go back to school, roads are expected to get busier with school runs and general commutes, so we are reminding motorists, pedestrians and cyclists to take care on the road.

Our Sustainable Transport team has issued the following road safety tips:

• Be alert – avoid distractions such as wearing headphones and using mobile phones whilst walking and cycling
• Be prepared – if walking, make sure you have walked the route with your child before the first day of school and, where possible, use wider pavements and controlled crossing points. If travelling by bus, arrive at the stop 5 minutes early to be prepared
• Take extra care – the school run and morning commute can be very busy – allow extra time so you don’t feel rushed or stressed
• Follow the rules of the road – remember the key rules of the road to keep residents safe. Watch your speed when driving, encourage children to stop, look, listen and think when crossing the road in a safe place and hold younger children’s hands
• Wear bright and reflective clothing – if walking or cycling, wear fluorescent or reflective clothing to ensure you’re seen by motorists, cyclists and other pedestrians
• If cycling – make sure your bike is road worthy and wear a helmet

Our Sustainable Transport team is continuing to provide road safety advice to children of all ages across Medway. Last year the Road Safety team delivered valuable road safety lessons to more than 8,500 pupils, including seatbelt lessons which were taught in 63 Medway schools. We also teamed up with emergency services to teach lifesaving lessons with the Safety in Action programme. Children aged 10-11 from 44 schools across Medway virtually took part in water, fire, road, internet and personal safety lessons and the sessions will run again later this year.

Pupils across Medway are also encouraged to take part in many fun and active initiatives throughout the year, to keep active and reduce the number of cars on Medway’s roads. The Medway Walk to School Challenge will return in October to encourage young people to walk their normal school journey to be in with the chance to win a variety of prizes. Our Climate Response, Child Health and Child-Friendly Medway teams are encouraging residents to take part as by choosing to walk to school, pupils can help support the climate and improve air quality. Primary and secondary schools across Medway are encouraged to sign up to the month-long challenge to walk 2,000 miles, the equivalent of Medway to Egypt, to be in with the chance of winning prizes including class trips to Kent Wildlife Trusts and a family ticket to Diggerland. To find out more, email climate.change@medway.gov.uk.

Follow the rules of the road at all times

Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Frontline Services, Cllr Phil Filmer, said: “With thousands of Medway pupils returning to school, it is vital that residents are reminded of essential road safety advice. Our top tips are useful to all road users including cyclists, pedestrians and motorists and I would encourage all families to have a read to ensure the safety of their children travelling to and from school. We all have a duty to behave responsibly and follow the rules of the road, at all times, not just during the school run.”

Roads are expected to get busier

Cllr Martin Potter, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Education and Schools, said: “It is important that we all follow the rules of the road and are aware of road safety, especially with Medway’s roads expected to get busier with schools returning over the next week. I would like to thank our Sustainable Transport Team who visit and educate Medway students on rules of the road and road safety. These initiatives support our child-friendly Medway ambitions, putting children and young people at the heart of everything we do.”

For more road safety advice visit medway.gov.uk/roadsafety