Staying safe on the road
The records show that a lot of children get involved in accidents while using the roads or sometimes even lose their lives.
Advertisement
But such deaths can be avoided if every child knows what to do anytime he or she gets out to walk to school or goes out.
Let’s learn how to be safe each day we leave home to walk to school or travel.
Facilities for road safety
It is important for you to know that anytime you use the road, there are devices provided at various sections of the road to assist all road users such as motorists, riders and pedestrians like you to use the road safely.
Lollipop stand
It is a point where pedestrians request drivers to stop by stretching a Request Sign towards oncoming vehicles to stop for them to cross. Pedestrians should always wait for vehicles to stop before they cross the road.
Traffic signals
At some road junctions, coloured light posts have been erected to control the movement of road users. These are referred to as traffic signals or traffic lights. The traffic signals have three colours namely Red, Amber (Yellow) and Green.
When you come to a traffic signal, Red means vehicles should STOP. This implies that the vehicles must stop behind the stop line.
The Amber at a traffic signal means GET READY TO STOP because the Red light is about to appear.
The Green light at the traffic signal means vehicles can go if the road is clear.
At any traffic signal when the Amber (yellow) keeps on flashing, it means you can go if only the road is clear. In such a situation, one has to be very careful.
Pelican Signal
At some intersections and pedestrian crossings, devices have been installed to assist pedestrians cross the road safely. This device is known as the pelican signal.
When the robot-man in the pelican signal shows red, it means pedestrians must stop. When the robot-man shows green, it means pedestrians can cross.
Some pelican signals are activated by pushing a button to get drivers to stop. Others also have beeping sounds that assist the blind to cross.
Pelican crossing - It is where people wishing to cross the road can stop traffic by pressing a button that controls the traffic lights at the side of the road.
Outfits for road safety
An outfit is an article of clothing or a covering. You need to put on certain clothes in order to be seen by drivers.
Brightly coloured clothes, reflective jackets and helmets make others also using the road to see you at night. When you use such clothing on the road, you are sure vehicle drivers can see you, especially at night.
These outfits include reflective vests worn by the police and other people who work on the road.
Some common road terms
Pedestrian - A person who is travelling on foot, especially in an area also used by vehicles.
Traffic - Movement of vehicles, human beings, cart pushers and animals on a road or street.
Zebra/pedestrian crossing
This is where there are white horizontal stripes marked on the road. It is a safe crossing point for pedestrians, especially children like you.
Foot bridge is a narrow bridge suitable for people walking to cross a road and not for vehicles. This is a safe crossing point for pedestrians and children. It is safe because it separates human and vehicular traffic.
There is no need to run across as no vehicle uses this bridge. Pedestrians walk or cross on top of the bridge and should not cross underneath, where they are likely to be hit by vehicles and motorcycles.
Where to cross the road
The safe places for you to cross the road are at:
Pedestrian/zebra crossing
Foot-bridge/overpass
Traffic lights
Pelican lights
Points where police or traffic wardens control traffic.