Many local residents and visiting families will head to our beaches to cool off and enjoy some fun in the sun, highlighting the need for motorists to take extra care of pedestrians.
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To promote child road safety at this busy time, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has once again partnered with child pedestrian and road safety foundation, Little Blue Dinosaur and installed over 200 bright and colourful ‘Holiday Time: Slow Down Kids Around’ and ‘Hold my Hand’ road safety signs.
The Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation works to educate and protect children around roads, teaching them about the ever-present dangers, and using signs to better inform drivers and pedestrians.
The Foundation is dedicated to the memory of founders Michelle and David McLaughlin’s son, Tom, who was victim of a roadside accident while on holidays with his family on the Central Coast in January 2014.
Little Blue Dinosaur Founder and CEO Michelle McLaughlin said she was delighted Port Macquarie-Hastings Council had been so supportive of the child pedestrian road safety campaign.
“Port Macquarie is such a lovely family holiday area,” Mrs McLaughlin said.
“As it’s such a busy place, with roads, shops, parks and beaches all close together, it is exactly the kind of place our message is most needed and it is wonderful that more beaches will be covered this year.
“Since we lost Tom, 70 more children have died when they were hit by cars, and thousands of others have been hospitalised, the cost – emotional and financial – is just too high.”
Deputy Mayor Lisa Intemann said Council is pleased to be able to support the initiative once again this year, increasing the number of signs in place along our busy roads.
“Signage has been installed around Town Beach, Flynns Beach, Lighthouse Beach, Lake Cathie, Bonny Hills and North Haven, and is a highly visible reminder for motorists, tourists and locals to help keep children safe, particularly around roads during the busy holiday period,” Cr Intemann said.
“With holiday season upon us and many visitors flocking to our region, it’s important that we all take extra care on our roads, taking note of the simple mantra: Holiday Time: Slow Down, Kids Around.”
The Little Blue Dinosaur safety signage will remain in place during the school holiday period.
