As the school holidays approach, the Wallonian Agency for Road Safety (AWSR) is reminding the public of essential safety measures for organising group outings with children. Nearly four out of ten accidents (37%) involving child pedestrians aged six to 11 occur between June and September in Wallonia, a proportion higher than that for teenagers (23%) or adults (30%).
Children are particularly vulnerable road users due to their small size, developing sense of danger, and still-developing balance. Limited visibility is a significant factor in road accidents and affects child pedestrians twice as often.
“When children move in groups, the risk can increase if the group is disorganised,” warns the AWSR. “All road users must remain vigilant, and structured supervision by caretakers is essential.”
Specific rules are provided by the Highway Code for groups with guides. It is ideal to choose safe routes with pavements and secure crossings. If the route is unfamiliar, a prior reconnaissance is recommended.
Groups with guides may walk on the road, but it is advisable for smaller groups (up to 15 children) to use pavements or verges to maintain distance from motor traffic. An escort should be at the front to spot potential dangers and another at the rear to prevent stragglers. Lighting is mandatory for groups with a guide using the road where visibility is poor (under 200 metres).
Finally, using a pedestrian crossing is mandatory if it is less than 20 metres away.
