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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UPDATES

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Blind spot monitoring and other vehicle safety technologies can be great as an extra precaution, but nothing replaces your eyes and ears.

Always be sure to check your blind spots and look for pedestrians, especially before taking a right on a red light.

#WatchForMeCT #DriveResponsibly
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Blind spot monitoring and other vehicle safety technologies can be great as an extra precaution, but nothing replaces your eyes and ears. 

Always be sure to check your blind spots and look for pedestrians, especially before taking a right on a red light. 

#WatchForMeCT #DriveResponsibly

Pedestrian Safety Month is coming to an end, but drivers should continue to look out for pedestrians. With patience and attention, we can keep our roads safe for all.

#WatchForMeCT #PedestrianSafetyMonth
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Watch for bicyclists and save lives.

#WatchForMeCT #pedestriansafety #bikesafety
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🚶‍♀️🚦 October is Pedestrian Safety Month — and drivers, this one’s for you:

Per Connecticut law, you must yield to pedestrians:
➡️ In marked crosswalks
➡️ In unmarked crosswalks (the straight curb-to-curb space at intersections)
➡️ Stepping into a crosswalk
➡️ Waving to signal they want to cross (even with a cane, crutch, or other device)

⚠️ As of Oct 1, the fine for failing to yield went up from $500 → $750.

Shorter days mean more pedestrians after dark. Slow down. Look out. Yield the right-of-way.

#WatchForMeCT #PedestrianSafetyMonth
... See MoreSee Less

🚶‍♀️🚦 October is Pedestrian Safety Month — and drivers, this one’s for you:

Per Connecticut law, you must yield to pedestrians:
➡️ In marked crosswalks
➡️ In unmarked crosswalks (the straight curb-to-curb space at intersections)
➡️ Stepping into a crosswalk
➡️ Waving to signal they want to cross (even with a cane, crutch, or other device)

⚠️ As of Oct 1, the fine for failing to yield went up from $500 → $750.

Shorter days mean more pedestrians after dark. Slow down. Look out. Yield the right-of-way.

#WatchForMeCT #PedestrianSafetyMonth

It's National School Bus Safety Week!

Did you know the most dangerous part of a school bus ride is getting on and off the bus?

Drivers are urged to pay attention to:
⚠️ Extended stop-arms
⚠️ Flashing red lights
⚠️ Children crossing the street

This #SchoolBusSafetyWeek, let's all do our part by staying alert in school zones. Together, we can keep our kids safe!

#WatchForMeCT #StopForTheBus #DriveSmart
... See MoreSee Less

Its National School Bus Safety Week! 

Did you know the most dangerous part of a school bus ride is getting on and off the bus? 

Drivers are urged to pay attention to: 
⚠️ Extended stop-arms
⚠️ Flashing red lights
⚠️ Children crossing the street

This #SchoolBusSafetyWeek, lets all do our part by staying alert in school zones. Together, we can keep our kids safe! 

#WatchForMeCT #StopForTheBus #DriveSmart

This week is National Teen Driver Safety Week - a perfect time to talk with the new drivers in your life.

Getting behind the wheel is exciting, but it also comes with a large responsibility. Remind teens to:

✅ Stay focused
✅ Be alert
✅ Follow the speed limit

For more tips, visit ow.ly/OGPg50X4pYt.

#WatchForMeCT #TeenDriverSafety #DriveResponsibly
... See MoreSee Less

This week is National Teen Driver Safety Week - a perfect time to talk with the new drivers in your life. 

Getting behind the wheel is exciting, but it also comes with a large responsibility. Remind teens to:

✅ Stay focused
✅ Be alert
✅ Follow the speed limit 

For more tips, visit https://ow.ly/OGPg50X4pYt. 

#WatchForMeCT #TeenDriverSafety #DriveResponsibly