Winnie & Wally!

At Watch for Me CT, we believe the best way to keep our communities safe is by teaching safe habits early. Winnie’s role is to show grown-ups how important it is to lead by example, while her joey, Wally reminds us that little eyes are always watching and learning. Together, they help families talk about safety in a fun, memorable way.

PROTECTING KIDS

According to recommendations from both the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Center for Safe Routes to School children under 10 are not ready to cross the street alone and should not do so.

Young children often do not have the motor skills or cognitive abilities to safely navigate being near the road.

According to the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP), with a couple very limited exceptions, children under the age of 10 should never be near the road by themselves. Due to age-appropriate developmental limitations, children under the age of 10 can struggle with scanning for traffic, judging vehicle speed/distance, anticipating driver behavior, and determining if it is safe to cross the road.

Using the front yard as a play area can be dangerous, especially for younger children, because of the proximity to traffic and the risk of driveway backovers. Play away from vehicles!

As children get a little older and their brains develop further, they gain the skills needed to safely navigate the road.

In addition to the developmental milestones, in late elementary and middle school, kids will have practiced safe behavior near the road with parents, responsible older siblings, or other trusted adults. This supervised practice teaches kids what they are supposed to do and models correct behavior for them to copy when they are by themselves.

Model Good Behavior – Children watch their parents and other adults (and older siblings) in their lives. Modelling safe behavior can help teach kids what they are supposed to do.

Supervise! – Consider your child’s age and maturity level before reducing supervision. While the 10-year-old number is a good benchmark, every kid is different and that’s ok!

Consider the Surroundings – For older children, the type of road factors into how much supervision your child needs. A quiet cul-de-sac is generally much safer than a busy state route.

Be Visible – Make sure that your child is wearing bright or reflective clothing, even during the day. Pedestrians are the smallest road users so it is important to do whatever you can to be as visible as possible.

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Spring outings mean more time near busy streets. Winnie reminds kids to always cross with an adult or a responsible older sibling—especially during times of reduced daylight—and encourages drivers to stay alert and yield to pedestrians at every crosswalk.

#WatchForMeCT #PedestrianSafety #winnieandwally
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Spring outings mean

📵 April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month
According to NHTSA, more than 3,000 people were killed in 2023 in crashes involving distracted drivers.
It only takes a second for things to go wrong. Looking down to check a single text at 55 mph means you could travel the length of a football field without looking at the road.
And it’s not just texting—hands-free and infotainment systems can still take your attention away from driving.
🚗 Stay focused. Stay alert.
When you’re behind the wheel, your only job is to drive.
Let’s all do our part to keep the roads safe 💛

#DistractedDrivingAwareness #DriveFocused #StaySafe
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📵 April is Distra

National Walking Day is a great reminder that every step matters—especially when it comes to safety. As an organization focused on pedestrian safety, we encourage families to use this moment to talk with children about safe walking habits, like using crosswalks, staying alert, and making eye contact with drivers. These simple conversations can help build lifelong habits that keep everyone safer on the road.

Learn more and explore family-friendly safety resources: ow.ly/xOk250YAM6G

#WatchForMeCT #NationalWalkingDay #PedestrianSafety #SafeWalking #FamilySafety #WatchForMeCT
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National Walking Day

On National Take a Walk in the Park Day, encourage children to burn off energy in a safe, traffic free space away from busy roadways. Parks and walking paths offer a fun way for families to stay active while keeping kids safely separated from fast moving vehicles.

#WatchForMeCT #PedestrianSafety #BicyclistSafety
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On National Take a W

Confused about Connecticut’s e-bike laws? Anna is here to break it down. In this video, she explains e-bike safety, the legal requirements in Connecticut, and simple best practices to help you ride responsibly and help keep everyone on our roads and sidewalks safe.

#WatchForMeCT #PedestrianSafety #BicyclistSafety
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🌷 Spring Is Here — Let’s Share the Road

Warmer weather means more people walking and biking. Here’s what to remember:
🚶 Pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks when they are in them, stepping into them, or signaling they want to cross. And remember—every intersection is a crosswalk, painted or not.
🚲 In Connecticut, bicycles are treated as vehicles and may use the full lane. Honking or following too closely can create unsafe situations.
🚗 Passing a bicyclist? Leave at least three feet of space. Drivers may cross a double yellow line to pass if it is clear and safe. If it is not clear, wait to pass.
Let’s look out for one another this season.

#ShareTheRoad #SpringSafety #CTRoads #WatchForMeCT
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🌷 Spring Is Here

Winnie reminds families that wearing a helmet every time you ride helps protect young bicyclists and builds safe habits that last. Wally shows that safety starts with simple choices at home and in the neighborhood.

#WatchForMeCT #PedestrianSafety #BicyclistSafety #winnieandwally
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Winnie reminds famil

🌷 Spring is here, Connecticut! With warmer days ahead, more people will be walking, biking, and enjoying the outdoors. Let’s all stay alert, watch for pedestrians, and make safety a part of every step.

#WatchForMeCT #PedestrianSafety #SpringSafety #StaySafeCT
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🌷 Spring is here,