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Increased patronage at Children’s Traffic School welcomed

Increased patronage of the Hazelwood Power Children’s Traffic School by school students has been welcomed by Latrobe City’s Mayor, Cr Graeme Middlemiss.

By Latrobe City Council - 22nd August 2003 - Back to News

The increase follows an initiative by Latrobe City and RoadSafe that provides free bus travel for schools booking the traffic school facility.

Cr Middlemiss said RoadSafe was to be congratulated on the initiative that could only lead to a better recognition of road safety issues and increased skill levels among students on their way to and from school, and during recreation.

"It is vital that young people understand the dangers on the roads and get a good grounding on how to remain safe as a pedestrian or cyclist in various traffic conditions. The Hazelwood Power Children’s Traffic School allows many of those scenarios to be simulated in a way that’s fun to learn, and in a safe environment," Cr Middlemiss said.

Anne Membrey, a teacher at Glengarry Primary School who visited the Traffic School with Grade Prep last week, said the first-hand experience to be gained at the traffic school was invaluable for the students.

"The Traffic School provides ways of teaching our children about issues such as safety at traffic lights or the meaning of traffic signs which wouldn’t be encountered in a township such as Glengarry," Mrs Membrey said.

"Living where there is little traffic can sometimes lead to a false sense of security, so there is a need to engender awareness not just of the dangers to be faced in the local environment, but in busier environments the children may be accessing, such as on a shopping trip to Traralgon, or a visit to Melbourne."

For the Prep Grade children, it was their second visit to the traffic school, a follow up to a previous visit when the children were at preschool. Latrobe City’s Traffic Safety Educator, Michael Morgan, said that developing road sense was important for children from a young age, and it was equally important to reinforce and expand on those lessons for some years.

"Road safety skills are something we all have to learn and the earlier we acquire those skills, the better. However, we are also never too old to learn either. As adult drivers for example, there is not just a responsibility to drive within the law, but we all need to learn to anticipate where a child may make a mistake while developing their own skills, and make allowances," Mr Morgan explained.

"Road safety is an ongoing learning experience for everyone," he said.

"While the emphasis is on schoolchildren developing their skills at the Hazelwood Power Children’s Traffic School, we also cater for preschools and youth groups. The Traffic School can be a great venue for a birthday party of for an end of year break up for young people too," Mr Morgan added.

Further information on the Hazelwood Power Children’s Traffic School can be obtained by contacting Latrobe City, telephone 1300 367 700.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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