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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🚨New Term Alert: Motor-Driven Cycle🚨

Some vehicles you thought were e-bikes or e-scooters might actually be classified as motor-driven cycles, and the rules are different. No DMV registration is required, but you must have a valid driver’s license.
A motor-driven cycle is:

☑️Seat height of at least 26""
☑️Motor under 50cc or 3,700 watts or less
☑️Includes bicycles with attached motors and motor scooters, but not e-bikes* or e-scooters
☑️Also includes certain one-wheeled vehicles with footrests or floorboards

📌If your ride fits this description, make sure you're licensed to operate it!

*E-bikes must fit into one of the three classes as defined by law.

#WatchForMeCT #EBikes #MotorDrivenCycle
... See MoreSee Less

🚨New Term Alert: Motor-Driven Cycle🚨  

Some vehicles you thought were e-bikes or e-scooters might actually be classified as motor-driven cycles, and the rules are different. No DMV registration is required, but you must have a valid driver’s license.
A motor-driven cycle is:

☑️Seat height of at least 26
☑️Motor under 50cc or 3,700 watts or less
☑️Includes bicycles with attached motors and motor scooters, but not e-bikes* or e-scooters
☑️Also includes certain one-wheeled vehicles with footrests or floorboards

📌If your ride fits this description, make sure youre licensed to operate it!

*E-bikes must fit into one of the three classes as defined by law.

#WatchForMeCT #EBikes #MotorDrivenCycle
12 hours ago

We are so honored that Erin Hermann will join us this Sunday at the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, being held in New Britain at Walnut Hill Park from 1-2:30.Congratulations to our Volunteers of the Month Erin and Larry Hermann! Erin and Larry contacted MADD back in 2018, after losing their son Kyle in a drugged driving crash. Pretty much immediately, they wanted to do all they could to prevent this type of tragedy from happening to others. Only 8 months later, they started sharing Kyle’s story at our Victim Impact Panels. The courage and strength that takes is unimaginable. Since then, they have spoken at countless impact panels, schools, businesses and press conferences. They have manned tables for us at National Night Out and the Boat Show up at Mohegan Sun. They have been there to support any and every event they can possibly attend. Larry has shown up at our lobby days and events to recruit new volunteers, just to support us. Erin has leant her experience and knowledge to creating and presenting a seminar on Grief for our victims and survivors. And their advocacy does not stop at the state level. They have been worked hard in the War Room with our National Office on the Halt Act to stop impaired driving all together. We wish we never had to meet you both in the way that we did, but we are glad you found your way to MADD Connecticut so we could be a small part in how you honor Kyle every day. ... See MoreSee Less

We are so honored that Erin Hermann will join us this Sunday at the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, being held in New Britain at Walnut Hill Park from 1-2:30.
13 hours ago

Join us on Sunday in New Britain to honor victims of traffic violence in Connecticut and advocate for change. ... See MoreSee Less

Join us on Sunday in New Britain to honor victims of traffic violence in Connecticut and advocate for change.

⚡🚲 Thinking About Buying an E-Bike This Holiday Season?

E-bikes are a fun and eco-friendly way to get around — but before you buy, make sure what you’re getting is actually a legal e-bike in Connecticut ✅

Here’s what to look for:
🔹 Labeling: All e-bikes must show their class, max speed, and wattage.
🔹 Power limit: The motor must be under 750 watts.
🔹 Speed:
• Class 1 & 2 → max 20 mph
• Class 3 → max 28 mph
🔹 Throttle: Only Class 2 e-bikes can have one — and they can’t go faster than 20 mph with it.
🔹 Pedals: Must be fully functional — even if it has a throttle!

👨‍👩‍👧 Thinking of getting one for your child? Make sure they’re ready for it. If it’s their first bike, start with a traditional one and work up from there.

#EBikeSafety #CTSafeRoads #RideSmart
... See MoreSee Less

⚡🚲 Thinking About Buying an E-Bike This Holiday Season?

E-bikes are a fun and eco-friendly way to get around — but before you buy, make sure what you’re getting is actually a legal e-bike in Connecticut ✅

Here’s what to look for:
🔹 Labeling: All e-bikes must show their class, max speed, and wattage.
🔹 Power limit: The motor must be under 750 watts.
🔹 Speed:
 • Class 1 & 2 → max 20 mph
 • Class 3 → max 28 mph
🔹 Throttle: Only Class 2 e-bikes can have one — and they can’t go faster than 20 mph with it.
🔹 Pedals: Must be fully functional — even if it has a throttle!

👨‍👩‍👧 Thinking of getting one for your child? Make sure they’re ready for it. If it’s their first bike, start with a traditional one and work up from there.

#EBikeSafety #CTSafeRoads #RideSmart

... See MoreSee Less

Whether you're walking to school, work, or just out for a stroll, staying safe as a pedestrian is key.

Here are a few quick tips to keep in mind:
✅ Cross at crosswalks or intersections
✅ Make eye contact with drivers before crossing
✅ Stay alert, no texting while walking near traffic
✅ Wear bright or reflective clothing at night
✅ Always obey traffic signals

#WatchForMeCT #WatchForMe #PedestrianSafety
... See MoreSee Less

Whether youre walking to school, work, or just out for a stroll, staying safe as a pedestrian is key. 

Here are a few quick tips to keep in mind:
✅ Cross at crosswalks or intersections
✅ Make eye contact with drivers before crossing
✅ Stay alert, no texting while walking near traffic
✅ Wear bright or reflective clothing at night
✅ Always obey traffic signals

#WatchForMeCT #WatchForMe #PedestrianSafety