CGRC mayor Cr Abb McAlister with local children Eve and Alfie Bucknell, took a look at the “Hold My Hand” signs strategically placed in areas frequented by children across the council area. The signs have been erected in partnership with The Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation to remind parents and carers to hold young children’s hands when crossing or are near roads

Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (CGRC) has partnered with The Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation (LBD) to remind community members to take care on the regions roads and be on the lookout for children during the upcoming school holidays. The Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation was formed by Sydney parents Michelle and David McLaughlin after their four year old son, Thomas was tragically killed in a pedestrian motor vehicle accident while on a family holiday in January 2014.

The Little Blue Dinosaur campaign is targeting motorists to slow down and be aware of unpredictable children near roadways. It is strongly recommended by Australian road safety experts that children aged 10 years and under should always have their hand held by an adult when out about in our traffic environments. The LBD is a foundation dedicated to the prevention of roadside child pedestrian accidents through community education and awareness, dedicated to the memory of Michelle and David’s son, Tom. “Children are in a highly excitable state on holidays and with the population spike in areas during holiday periods, particularly over summer, the risk of accidents is increased.

It is an unusually dangerous time for children on roads,” said Tom’s parents Michelle and David McLaughlin. Figures from Transport for NSW (TfNSW) state that between 2011 and 2015, 37 children aged 5 to 12 were killed and a further 3149 injured on NSW roads. This includes 732 pedestrians, 2148 passengers and 239 cyclists. CGRC has erected signage across the region to raise awareness of the importance of road safety for children in unfamiliar environments, particularly during holidays. In Cootamundra, the signs are located in Mitchell Park, at the Adams Street entry and exit in Fisher Park, Nicholson Park at the Bourke Street entry/exit next to the playground, in Jubilee Park at Wallendoon Street and Clarke Oval at the Wallendoon St entry/exit.

In Gundagai the colourful signs have been erected at Yarri Park, Owen Vincent Oval, Stan Crowe Oval and Carberry Park. CGRC mayor Cr Abb McAlister said the signage and campaign are extremely important for all road users. “Children can be so unpredictable and are impulsive when they are on holidays and visiting new sites. I’m pleased our Council has partnered with the Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation to raise awareness for Child pedestrian safety,” Cr McAllister said.