Child Safety Officer
Michael Wilkinson
Michael Wilkinson
We often hear a number of apparently dangerous pursuits that are substantially less dangerous than it is for people to simply travel in buses and cars. You are less likely to die from a shark attack, plane crash, lightning strike or an over zealous Llama, than you are by simply travelling on the road in a vehicle. What we don’t often consider, however, is the impact and associated consequences that increase when it comes to our most precious cargo, our kids.
As an erstwhile Physics teacher, it doesn’t surprise me anymore how much drivers (and passengers) underrate the forces in vehicles when the brakes are jammed on in an emergency slow down or collision. If you were holding a 30 kilogram child on your lap unrestrained at even 40km in a school zone and had to stop in one second, holding that child is the equivalent strength required to deadlift a large bar fridge off the ground. A toddler sitting unrestrained on the back seat with the same braking at 80km, will likely experience fatal head injuries or death.
Having said that, most of us in Australia have known very well, for decades, that seat belts are the number one lifesaver in an accident (followed in close second place by the inclusion of airbags in vehicles). In Tasmania, whilst in all cars, seat belts, child restraints and baby capsules have been compulsory for some time, it is not compulsory for buses and taxis to have these. Nevertheless, when provided, they are mandated for use. In all the buses used to transport Leighland students, seat belts must be properly fitted and used by occupants. We ask all parents of Leighland students to spend some time ensuring that they are fully aware of their obligations to wear seat belts every time they are on a bus as a student. Sadly, we have had bus drivers reminding students regularly to do this, but we are not always confident that our most precious cargo, our students, always understand the absolute importance of doing this. In an accident, the consequences can be catastrophic. That is why in the worst cases, our bus contractors deny the right for students who regularly refuse to wear seat belts, to use these buses.
It is also a timely reminder to check our child restraint settings/capsule configurations as our children grow, since they may be effective at one age and ineffective as they grow. Information about appropriate settings for these can be found here at the Car Seat Safety page from Transport Tasmania:
Our students at Leighland come from far and wide on the Northwest Coast of Tasmania, and across the school we are regularly running excursions, sporting events and co-curricular activities to enrich the lives of our students of all ages. Keeping safe on those trips is one area that every member of the Leighland community can take responsibility for.
Mick Wilkinson
Deputy Head of Ulverstone Campus