Road safety morning at Kia Kaha Primary School

Thursday School Journal

It is road safety morning at Kia Kaha Primary School!

PC Meghan Marple is here.
She has come to do crossing patrol.

It is fun when PC Marple comes to do crossing patrol.
You get to stand at the pedestrian crossing,
and the drivers make a big show of going very slowly and carefully,
especially if they see PC Marple.

It is funny to watch grown-ups pretending to be different to the way they really are.

Ms Barry says,
Before we go out there, PC Marple has a question for you.

PC Marple says,
Nice to see you again, Room 13.
Who can tell me who would get hurt the most if you got hit on a pedestrian crossing by an SUV?
You or the SUV?

Everyone in Room 13 looks at each other.
They are not sure if PC Marple is asking a trick question.

Madison says,
Us? 

PC Marple says.
Yep.
If a car hits you at just 50 K, you have a 40% chance of dying.
And if it hits you at 70, there is only a 4% chance you won't be killed.
And even if it only hits you at 30, 
the cars that people like to drive these days - like SUVs and utes - weigh a whole lot more than cars used to,
and the heavier they are the more harm they can do.

Zac says 
My Dad says his Ranger is safe as.

PC Marple says,
Oh no doubt it is.
The car makers like to say their cars are safer than ever.
And that’s quite true.
But only for the people on the inside.
If you're on the outside you can get hurt worse than ever,
because they’re so huge now.

Ms Barry says,
So, class, what do we have to make absolutely sure of,
before we step out on a pedestrian crossing?

Patrick says
Make absolutely sure Zac's Dad isn't coming

The children laugh.

Then Abi says,
Make sure it’s safe?

PC Marple says,
That’s it.
And I hear from Ms Barry that maybe yesterday one of you forgot?

Everyone is looking at Thomas.

Thomas says,
For real, I got enough of this from Mum last night.

Ms Barry says,
Do you think we might all be able to learn from this, Thomas?

Thomas says,
I suppose.
But like, it was the first time in ages, Miss.
I always look first.
But I was running to catch up to the others after I dropped my bag.
And so I ran out onto the crossing without checking.
And this woman had to slam on her brakes.
And then last night, Mum’s on the Kia Kaha Locals Facebook page,
and she says, ‘Were you wearing your Minions t-shirt this afternoon Thomas?’
And she says ‘This lady says a kid in a Minions t-shirt ran out in front of her and she nearly rolled her Audi. Was that you?’
And I say yes.
And she says ‘Congratulations. All of Kia Kaha is going off.’

Ms Barry says,
Yes, I saw that.
There were a lot of people saying
’I get kids running out in front of me without looking all the time and I have to slam on the brakes and I’m the slowest most cautious driver I know!!!!’

Amelia rolls her eyes and says,
Not even, Miss.
I mean maybe a bit.
But we’re not that bad.

Ms Barry says,
Do you have any thoughts, PC Marple?

PC Marple says,
It’s super important to be as careful as you can,
but the law also says drivers have to be ready to stop at a pedestrian crossing.
Some of them seem to forget that.
A car can make you feel like you’re in your own special world,
and that you should be able to go where you want,
without anyone holding you up at all.
But that’s not true.
The road is for sharing,
and at the very least not hurting other people.

Ms Barry says,
So how would you like to see people driving?

PC Marple says,
You should always be driving carefully enough that if you have to stop unexpectedly,
everyone will be okay.
And the nearer you get to people on foot or on bikes,
the more care you should take.
You know how on School Fair day,
some of the parents drive their cars onto the playing field to bring in trailers and things,
but no-one feels unsafe because the drivers are going so carefully?
If we were sane,
we’d be taking that much care all the time,
instead of treating cars like mobile La-Z-Boys.

Ms Barry is looking around the room.
She is wondering if anyone has noticed that the School Journal has started putting words in a sworn police officer’s mouth.

She says,
I think it might be time to go outside now.
But just one last question PC Marple:
Another thing someone said on the Facebook page was:
‘It is really appreciated if a driver does stop to let the pedestrian cross, if the pedestrian gives a sign of acknowledgement, a raise of the hand or a wave. Just one of the niceties of life.’
Any thoughts on that?

PC Marple says,
Well the thing is, it’s the law to stop.
It’s your legal obligation.
I mean there’s also a legal obligation not to take someone’s wallet,
but do we wave to each person who leaves our wallet alone?
What this really gives you is a bit of an insight into the driving mindset:
stopping is an inconvenience.
Which is not a very sharing thing to think, really, is it?

It is time to go outside.
Room 13 is walking to the pedestrian crossing.
Ms Barry and PC Marple are following.

Ms Barry says,
Cheers for that Meghan.

Then she says,
Did you really mean all of that?
Or was there some script in there?

PC Marple says,
Oh no that was for real.
Did I tell you I just got an e-bike?