PARENTS and teachers are being urged to make road safety a priority during International Walk to School Month.
School nurses from Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust made the plea as families are encouraged to tackle inactivity among children by walking to school during October.
The results of an annual National Travel Survey released in 2016 showed that the number of children walking to school in the UK had reached an all-time low. While 70 percent of children walked to school a generation ago, that figure today is 48 percent.
Cheryl Forrest, service manager at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust who oversees school nurses, said: “There is on average six children under the age of five who are killed or seriously injured on the roads every week.
"With International Walk to School Month being marked this month, it is, therefore, crucial children are made aware of road safety, cycle safety and how to handle traffic at a young age."
School nurses have issued some tips including holding hands when walking together, teaching children to stop, look and listen, wearing reflective clothing, checking bikes to make sure they are roadworthy and the right size.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here