The statistics are harrowing. In Australia, road trauma remains the leading cause of death for children between 1–14, with 29 per cent of deaths occurring when children are pedestrians. On average, one child dies in a crash on Australia’s roads every week.
For this reason, new colourful signage has been installed at nine popular locations across Onkaparinga reminding drivers, parents and caregivers that “it’s holiday time”, to “slow down” because there are “kids around”, and for parents to “hold my hand”.
Keep an eye out for them at four beach access points, Christies Beach and Moana Tourist Parks, and the regional playgrounds at Thalassa Park (Aberfoyle Park), Wilfred Taylor Reserve (Morphett Vale) and Jubilee Park (Port Noarlunga).
The signs are produced by the Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation – which has been campaigning for effective road safety initiatives and community education since 2014 – and installed by the City of Onkaparinga, which is the first council in metropolitan Adelaide to partner with the not-for-profit.
The council has also been sharing the foundation’s road safety messaging on social media and with local schools so they can distribute it to students’ families ahead of the holidays.
Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation (LBDF) founders Michelle and David McLaughlin know too well the cost of traumatic grief from child pedestrian deaths.
Their four-year-old son Tom was tragically killed while on holiday in 2014 when he stepped away from his family onto the road and into the path of an oncoming car.
City of Onkaparinga Mayor Moira Were said Onkaparinga’s beaches, playgrounds and holiday towns would soon see an influx of visitors, and it was up to everyone to keep kids safe on our roads.
“We love seeing our towns filled with people enjoying our great places and Onkaparinga lifestyle, but more people equals more pedestrians and vehicles, and also more excited children that aren’t familiar with local road and footpath cues,” she said.
“Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation’s studies show educational interventions like their safety signage increase awareness of child pedestrian safety in the community.
“More driver awareness is crucial, but so is direct supervision of children – especially involving physical contact – so I urge to you hold children’s hands around roadways and driveways.
“It’s also important to encourage older children to reduce distractions, pay attention to their surroundings and, where possible, cross at pedestrian crossings or traffic lights.”
The grief left in the wake of Tom’s traumatic death is still felt by the McLaughlins a decade later, with the hidden cost echoing far beyond the initial impact.
Michelle and David have used their grief as a powerful force for change, undertaking a decade-long push to make Aussie roads safer for child pedestrians through the foundation.
The Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation is urging policymakers to do more to prevent the ongoing tragedy of child deaths on Australia’s roads. Michelle also believes more must be done to support families who experience traumatic bereavement.
You can read more about their efforts – and a new report that examines effective grief support services for Australian families who lose a child to road trauma – at the LBDF website.
Keep children safe this holiday season with these tips from the Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation
- Drivers: Be aware and slow down, road crashes take only a microsecond to happen. Always assume there are children around, so pay extra attention when parking and using driveways.
- Parents and carers: Hold the hands of children around roadways, car parks and driveways. Be aware and vigilant, active attention and direct supervision are vital.
- Remind older children to pay attention, reduce distractions like phones and headphones, and cross at pedestrian crossings or traffic lights.
- Be cautious when on holiday or in new environments, particularly around areas of high pedestrian and vehicular activity.
Pictured
Left: new signage installed at Christies Beach Tourist Park. Right: Tom McLaughlin (photo: Narrative Post)