Walk Safely to School Day

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (16:09): I move:

That this council—

1. Recognises and supports Walk Safely to School Day on 17 May;

2. Works to promote better attitudes to road safety, public transport and the environment; and

3. Calls on the state government to continue the work of the previous government in promoting road safety around our schools.

This Friday marks the 20^th National Walk Safely to School Day, when all primary school children are encouraged to walk and commute safely to school. Walk Safely to School Day is an annual national event seeking to promote road safety, healthy living, public transport and the environment. Getting our children out the door, dressed, fed and their bags packed sometimes feels like an achievement in itself, but there is one last vital step: getting to school.

School mornings are a busy time in any household but, this Friday, parents, carers of students are being encouraged to rise a little earlier so they can take steps towards a healthier start to the day by walking safely to school. Thousands of students across the nation will once again be taking part in this active campaign to not only remind us to think twice about jumping in the car, on the bus or on the train for the trip to school but also about ensuring we arrive safely at school. This Friday is also an important day for motorists to take extra care on the roads, particularly near busy school crossings and zones, as students pound the pavement to walk to school.

Like most days, my family will be making the short walk to our public school this Friday. It is a short walk but a very busy one. While we probably will not be discussing the physical benefits of the short walk to school, we will, as we do most days, discuss road safety. We live near a popular inner-city school and our school drop-offs are a maze of distractions for motorists, parents and students. We have seen many near misses, as busy parents, carers and students make a last-minute dash to the school gate without the use of the school crossing.

We have all been there, with the rush and panic of being the last family through the school gate, but statistics tell us we need to practise what we preach to our children because kids do not bounce. One in seven road deaths in South Australia is a pedestrian. On average, 68 pedestrians are seriously injured and 241 receive minor injuries on South Australian roads each year. These statistics highlight why students, families and motorists need to be vigilant around our busy schools, especially this Friday on Walk Safely to School Day. The previous Labor government understood this, which is why, prior to the last election, Labor made a $9.6 million commitment to road safety improvements around schools to enhance road safety education in primary schools.

Why is this day important? The 2016 ACT Chief Health Officer's Report showed that just 19 per cent of kids are achieving the recommended 60 minutes of activity each day. Walk Safely to School Day was established not just to be words on paper but to get kids out of their car seat and to be active, with the aim that families could build regular walking to and from school into their daily routine. Walk Safely to School Day may not be achievable for many students, especially our regional students, but it is a timely reminder to be active.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins.