Safer scootering at Nayland School

Council was contacted by Nayland Primary School recently, looking for help to keep their scooter riding students safer.

The school was concerned about the risk of children whizzing out of the walkway across the road from the school onto the pedestrian crossing, travelling at speed and forgetting to check for traffic.

As a result, Council has organised scooter safety training sessions for students, which are being delivered by the team at Sport Tasman, who will be installing a cycle friendly/pram friendly barrier at the end of the walkway to alert users as they approach the road.

Many primary school children scooter to school and this training is offered across the region as a way to encourage children to take an active travel option to school and reduce vehicle congestion at the school gate.

Scootering is great fun, but there are a few things to remember if you want to stay safe while you are scootering.

• Keep your scooter in good condition.
• Stand straight and evenly distribute your weight on the foot plate.
• Give way to other people on footpaths.
• Ride on footpaths, not on the road, and remember that it’s better to scooter on smooth surfaces – uneven ground that has cracks, stones or sticks on it can make you fall off.
• Check to see if you are meant to dismount your scooter in certain places, for example when entering and leaving school.
• Stop at driveways; look down the driveway and check that no one is turning into the driveway. If it is safe, carry on.
• When crossing the road ALWAYS get off your scooter and push it across the road – that way you’ll have more control.