PARENTAL NEGLECT AND SAFETY OF WA SCHOOLCHILDREN (PAGE 20)

ABU Paul is a motorist in the Wa Municipality. Recently, while riding his Yamaha motorbike at Kpaguri in the municipality, he knocked down a six-year- old child, who died instantly.
Abu made all efforts to trace the parents of the child until he went to a local FM radio station to make an announcement before the child’s parents came to identify her.
The question on the lips of people was why should the parents of the child be so irresponsible in the upkeep of their child, such that her whereabouts were not known until the radio announcement.
The above scenario is what most often pertains in Wa. At times, one sees three or four year old children walking to school without any grown-up accompanying them. They are, therefore, exposed to serious risks from road users, especially motor-riders.
For those who do not know, this is perhaps the only part of the country where regard for road regulations is non-existent.
Kids often act on impulse. If this happens while they are walking, riding bicycles or playing near traffic, the risk of injury or even death is always inevitable. They are very vulnerable by themselves.
Parents and children are now being taught about safety on the roads and how to avoid dangerous situations.
Research shows that in some countries, road accidents are the major causes of death for young children. People between one and 15 years as well as those around 20 are killed while those around 40 years get seriously injured in road accidents in each year.
One parent at Wa, who wants to remain anonymous, said the reason why some of the children were left on their own to go to school was that parents thought road users would be sensible and wise enough to give the children the opportunity to cross the roads to and from school.
"We are also faced with the issue of transportation as some of us do not either have bicycles or motor-bikes" she told the Daily Graphic.
According to her, two of her children were nearly killed at a zebra crossing when a motorbike rider ignored the children, but for a good Samaritan who shouted at the rider, the kids might have died.
She, therefore, appealed to the police Motor Transport and Traffic Unit (MTTU) to constantly position their men at various points to assist schoolchildren.
The community police personnel who are doing a good job must be commended. However, there is more room for improvement.
They must be given the support to perform their duties instead of the hostile attitude towards them by road users.
Parents must also take keen interest in their children since they are the future leaders of the country. Adequate measures should be put in place to protect them from bad road users.
Young children cannot use the roads safely on their own until they have been taught how to see dangerous situations and how to act.
Although all adults and caretakers can help protect young children from harm, parents have the primary responsibility and the most direct influence. There are many practical ways that parents can help as one must not be a road safety expert to do so.
Children in Wa are at risk because they do not have the skills and judgement that come with increasing age and experience. Parents can help children to use the roads safely in many day-to-day situations, such as:
-Child restraints
-Walking
-Riding bicycles
-Using wheeled devices and toys
They must be occupied in the house for them to be at home after school hours instead of wandering and trying to fend for themselves.