Wellington Shire Council is excited to kick off their newest Community Road Safety initiative, with the launch of the new Stop, Look, Listen, Think, footpath decals.

During the remainder of May, 71 large yellow Stop, Look, Listen, Think decal stickers will be installed on the footpath at each school crossing site across the Shire.

The Stop, Look, Listen, Think decals, located at all safe crossing points, are designed to teach children to:

• Know where to STOP when in traffic.
• LOOK all around for vehicles as they can come from anywhere.
• LISTEN to where the traffic is coming from and the presence of reversing vehicles.
• THINK whether it is safe to cross.

Wellington Shire Council General Manager Community & Culture Glenys Butler says: “Council has partnered with local primary schools, as part of the VicRoads Community Road Safety Program, to identify ways to make traveling to school safe.

“Teaching children road safety at a young age will ensure they have more opportunities to learn safe pedestrian and driver habits.

“One way to do this is to reduce traffic congestion around schools and encourage children to walk, ride, skate or skoot to school.”

A recent survey conducted at three primary schools in Sale identified that a large number of students live less than one kilometre away from their school. Students in grades 3 to 6 who were driven said they would prefer to walk if given the choice.

Encouraging children to walk, ride, skate or skoot to school, even if it is part of the way, will go towards teaching children road safety, reduce traffic around the school gate and enable children to be active before school.