Rural Safety - Haumaru Taiwhenua

Walking on Rural Roads

Rural roads present certain dangers. Keep these important safety tips in mind when you’re walking on, or near, a rural road:

Walk facing oncoming traffic so you can see any cars coming on your side of the road.
If you can, keep as far off the road as possible.
Walk in single-file, shortest at the front so that everyone can see oncoming traffic.
Listen carefully. Vehicles in the countryside can zip by at high speeds, and we can hear them before we see them.
If a vehicle is coming, stop and stay back from the roadside until it has passed.
If the road ahead isn’t clear, be extra careful.

If we encounter a narrow bridge, let’s:

When it comes to rural driveways, we need to be extra cautious.

Watch for vehicles.
If a vehicle is blocking the footpath, follow these steps:
Check inside the vehicle for a driver.
If you see a driver, stop a couple of meters away and wait to see if they’ll move.
If no driver is visible, look and listen for signs the vehicle might move soon:
- Exhaust fumes
- Reverse lights
- Engine noise

If there’s no driver and the engine isn’t running, walk around on the house side.
If there’s no room on the house side, carefully go around on the roadside, looking and listening for traffic from all directions. Or go back and find a safe place to cross the road using the kerb drill.

Quad bikes are powerful beasts and they’re not meant for young children. Here’s how we can stay safe:

Children under 16 should never operate an adult-sized quad bike (engine capacity > 90cc).
Children should not be passengers on quad bikes designed for one person only.
It is required by law to wear a helmet when operating a quad bike.

Stay safe and wise, children. Let’s navigate the country with caution.