Neighbourhood Slow Down Day this Friday
On Friday 25 March, the communities of Mt St Thomas, Lindsay Park and Figtree Heights are participating in a 'Slow Down Day' where we urge all drivers to slow down to 30km/ hour to make it safer for our children getting to and from school.
Healthy Cities Illawarra media alert: 23 March 2022
Healthy Cities Illawarra has an innovative community event coming up to coincide with National Ride to School Day. On Friday 25 March, the communities of Mt St Thomas, Lindsay Park and Figtree Heights are participating in a 'Slow Down Day' where we urge all drivers to slow down to 30km/ hour to make it safer for our children getting to and from school.
- Students have designed posters to ask motorists to Slow Down
- Students created videos to promote walking and cycling to school and the benefits of safer speeds
- Posters, flags and banners promoting the Slow Down day are in key spots around the neighbourhood
“The pilot aims to raise awareness of the benefits of driving slowly in our neighbourhood streets to enable more children to have the option to walk or ride. Local streets should be there for everyone – where it is safe and appealing to walk and cycle. Parents tell us that they drive their children to school because there are not enough footpaths and crossings, and because of speeding cars – even though most of them live less than 2km away” said Kelly Andrews, CEO Healthy Cities Illawarra.
Healthy Cities Illawarra have teamed up with Safe Streets to School and 30please.org and the three schools to organise the day to get as many kids to walk, ride or scoot to school as possible.
Wollongong City Council and Transport for NSW are supporting the pilot.
Jon Lindley of Safe Streets to School said: “this is a first time event in Australia - and we are proud we are being able to trial this in our community. Around the world 30km/h speed limits are used in local streets to keep children safe and create an environment of mutual respect where both drivers and kids watch out for one another.”
Lena Huda said: “Directly around schools there are school zones with reduced speed limits and crossings. But this is not enough as most children who ride or walk live outside the school zone. The SlowDown day encourages drivers to slow down in all local streets within 2km of schools so children are safe the whole journey from their home to school, not just the last few meters.
“In local streets where we often don't have footpaths and crossings, the need for driving slower is high. Research shows that a fatal injury to a pedestrian is at least twice as likely to occur in a crash at 40km/h than at 30km/h.”
“Even though the weather may not be in our favour with all the rain, the day will go ahead and we hope that motorists will get into the spirit of the day and Slow Down!” said Kelly Andrews.
