By Eleanor Wilson
Maramba Primary School in Narre Warren is one of many primary schools across the country encouraging students to walk frequently and safely as part of Walk Safely to School Day.
Friday 20 May marks the 23rd annual Walk Safely to School Day, a national initiative that teaches road safety and encourages children to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle by incorporating walking into their daily routines.
Maramba Primary School principal Darren Wallace says encouraging daily exercise enhances many elements of a child’s day to day life.
“Being physically active and healthy helps them to concentrate and remain focused, but exercise also helps to regulate emotion as well,” Mr Wallace said.
Mr Wallace said the community initiative complements the ‘human literacy’ practises Maramba incorporates into its curriculum, which focus on the “knowledge of being human” and promote social, physical, intellectual, cultural and emotional learning.
“All of those aspects of human literacy really encompass the physical through being active, having healthy foods and we see the benefit of that in the classroom through happy, healthier children,” he said.
Pedestrian Council of Australia chairman and chief executive officer Harold Scruby affirmed the best exercise for all Australians is walking regularly.
“Children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day,” he said.
“We should encourage them to take a walk before school, during and at the end of their day.”
Walk Safely to School Day coincides with National Road Safety Week, which runs from Monday 15 to Sunday 22 May.
“Until they are 10, children must always hold the hand of an adult when crossing the road,” Mr Scruby said.
The road safety initiatives come as Victoria Police issued an “urgent safety plea” on Wednesday 18 May, reminding road users to exercise caution around roads.
The plea was issued in response to pedestrian deaths across the state more than doubling this year.
Statewide 15 pedestrians have died on Victoria’s roads this year compared with six at the same time last year.
Road Policing Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said distraction has been a factor in several of these deaths.
“Too often people aren’t aware of their surroundings because they’re blasting music through their headphones or absorbed with their mobile phone,” Mr Weir said.
“We’re concerned this trend will continue as we head into the winter months when it gets darker earlier and visibility is reduced.”
To address the issue, Police are staging a statewide day of action on Wednesday 18 May, with officers tasked with speaking to pedestrians about good road safety practices and ensuring traffic signals are obeyed.
