On Friday 15 May 2009 the Pedestrian Council of Australia (PCA) is encouraging all primary school children to walk and commute safely to school.
 
Walk Safely to School Day is being promoted as a community event which combines road safety, health, public transport and environmental objectives, including:

• encouraging parents and carers to walk to school with young children and reinforcing safe pedestrian behaviour;
• promoting the health benefits of walking and helping create regular walking habits at an early age;
• ensuring that children up to 10 years of age hold an adult's hand when crossing the road, helping them to develop vital road-crossing skills as they mature.
• reducing car dependency habits at an early age and promoting the use of public transport; and
• reducing the level of air pollution from motor vehicles and the level of traffic congestion.

By continuously promoting 'active transport' and regular walking the community will benefit greatly by helping to reverse worrying trends of childhood obesity and diabetes.

Walk Safely to School Day is supported by federal, state and local governments and the NSW Government encourages all state agencies to support this very worthwhile initiative, particularly agencies involved in Education, Local Government, Health, Roads and Transport, Environment and Police.

The PCA will be distributing promotional kits to all councils and primary schools in early April and any further information is available at www.walk.com.au or phone (02) 9968 4544.

John Lee
Director General