Every day in Western Australia approximately 300,000 young people travel to and from school. Many of them are bus users. Travelling independently involves a high degree of decision making and road awareness to arrive safely at a destination.

There is substantial historical evidence that travelling on a bus is very safe for students. However, there is a period of danger when they are crossing the road to meet or leave the bus. Similar dangers face children after exiting their parents’ cars, however, the bus presents some additional challenges because its size can often block vision of approaching traffic.  Therefore, every day young people are taking unacceptable risks, regularly running in front of, or between, buses when crossing the road.

The ‘Wait Before You Walk’ campaign is a State-wide initiative by the Public Transport Authority’s Transperth and School Bus Services branches, specifically aimed at increasing awareness of pedestrian safety around buses in 11-16 year olds. We request your assistance in raising awareness about this campaign and help reduce the unacceptable risk taking and potential for accidents or fatal injury around buses.

Teaching resource

This lesson plan is a student-centred enquiry learning task that has been developed specifically to target education of pedestrian safety around buses for Grade 7-10 students.

 

Wait Before You Walk information

Download the Wait Before You Walk poster and flyers from the table above to place in your class  room to generate discussion on road safety.