Educators - save the date and get planning for Road Safety Week 2020

Road Safety Week 2020 will take place 4-10 May, and teachers and child-carers are being encouraged to put the date in their 2020 calendar and start planning activities now.

The week, which is coordinated by Brake the road safety charity, will have the theme Step Up for Safe Streets, focusing on Vision Zero and the Safe System approach, and encouraging everyone to play their part in making our roads safer. Brake is calling on educators to help save young lives and raise awareness of key road safety messages by taking part.

Road Safety Week is a great opportunity for teachers, youth workers, and early learning educators to engage children and young people in life-saving lessons and encourage safer, more responsible road use throughout the community. It's an engaging topic with plenty of scope for creative and interactive learning, while also meeting curriculum goals.

Educators can access free electronic resources and guidance to help them get involved. Go to www.roadsafetyweek.org.nz/action-pack to register to get a free e-action pack. This will include downloadable posters to display during the Week, activity resources, advice, activity ideas and case studies of what other educators have done in previous years.

There are also ideas for taking part in the Week on the website, and links to useful resources from other organisations.

More details of plans for Road Safety Week will be released in early 2020.

Caroline Perry, Brake's NZ Director said: "Road Safety Week is a fantastic opportunity to engage your school or centre community in the crucial issue of road safety. Children can be fantastic road safety leaders and spokespeople, with ideas about the dangers of roads and ways to make them safer. Through Road Safety Week there is the opportunity for children and young people to explore and improve their own safety, whilst meeting important curriculum goals.

"Parents and educators also play a key role in helping to reduce the risks children, young people and families face - by teaching road safety and raising awareness of local issues. Register for Road Safety Week today to get your free action pack and ideas for getting involved."