In connection with the end of the academic year and the start of summer holidays, to draw attention to children's road safety and increase the vigilance of drivers and parents, from May 25 to June 5, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will conduct a special comprehensive event "Attention - Children!". This was reported to BELTA by Anna Banadyk, Senior Inspector for Special Assignments of the Main Directorate of Road Traffic Safety of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
In connection with the end of the academic year and the start of summer holidays, to draw attention to children's road safety and increase the vigilance of drivers and parents, from May 25 to June 5, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will conduct a special comprehensive event "Attention - Children!". This was reported to BELTA by Anna Banadyk, Senior Inspector for Special Assignments of the Main Directorate of Road Traffic Safety of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Preventive measures will begin with a Unified Road Safety Day, which will be held on May 25 under the slogan "Let's make summer safe together!". "The State Automobile Inspectorate urges drivers to be extremely careful when driving near children's institutions, passing unregulated pedestrian crossings, stops, and especially in courtyards. To prevent road traffic accidents involving minors during the special events, vehicles must move with their low beam headlights on during daylight hours," noted Anna Banadyk.
Employees of internal affairs bodies, educators, and parents will join forces to ensure children's safety. "A number of preventive events are planned for children and adolescents, including creative competitions, cycling relays, quizzes, olympiads, meetings, campaigns, and much more. Children will be reminded of the basic rules of safe behaviour, the observance of which will help avoid injuries on the roads during the summer holidays," said Anna Banadyk. "Special attention will be focused on preventive work with parents. Police officers will visit work collectives and parent meetings, explain to adults the causes and consequences of traffic accidents involving children, remind them of the rules for safely transporting minors, responsibility for traffic violations, and the importance of setting a personal example of correct and safe behaviour on the road."
Traffic police officers will conduct both preventive campaigns for children and parents, and raid operations to suppress violations of the Traffic Regulations. Special attention will be paid to drivers observing the speed limit, rules for passing pedestrian crossings, and safe transportation of children.
The State Automobile Inspectorate urges parents to reiterate with young and older children the basic rules of safe road behaviour. "It is necessary to explain how to behave in courtyards, where it is safe to play ball, ride a bicycle, roller skates or a scooter. It is necessary to once again review the rules for crossing the roadway, to check whether the child understands them correctly and can apply this knowledge in real traffic situations," said Anna Banadyk.
Since the beginning of the current year, 6 children have died on the country's roads, and another 125 minors have been injured. An analysis of road accidents in previous years shows that the distribution of child casualties in road traffic accidents over the year has a pronounced seasonal pattern. "On average, 70% of injuries on the roads occur from May to October, with the majority in the summer, when children are left unsupervised by educators and parents. The largest number of incidents involving children in the summer occurs from Friday to Sunday. It is on these days that children's and adolescents' leisure time needs to be closely monitored, and access to car and motorcycle keys should be prevented," emphasised Anna Banadyk.