Just yesterday (Tuesday October 3), a little boy riding a kick scooter was hit by a vehicle near Holland Village, according to Channel NewsAsia.
The accident reportedly took place around 5pm on Leedon Street. An ambulance rushed the little boy to National University Hospital.
Road safety group Roads.sg shared a video on their Facebook page of what happened, as recorded by dashboard camera footage of the car involved in the incident.
It appears that the boy was riding his scooter on the pavement without adult supervision. But then he tried to ride it across the road without checking for oncoming traffic.
The driver of the car was not able to brake in time and hit the child. Thankfully (according to the post), the boy did not sustain serious injuries and got away with scratches and bruises. But as parents, we all know that things could have turned out much, much worse.
The video has amassed plenty of comments from concerned netizens, with most urging parents to keep a closer eye on their kids while on the road, and also teach them about road safety.
Road safety rules for kids
Mums and dads, we have to point out that letting an unsupervised small child ride a scooter along a main road is asking for trouble.
Do keep these tips in mind:
- If you must allow your little one to ride his scooter or bike on the pavement, ensure that this is always done under adult supervision. Advise your helpers and other caregivers about this too.
- Even if an adult is with a child in such a situation, ensure your full focus is on the child and not on your phone or another device.
- As soon as your child is old enough to understand, teach him or her about basic road safety rules. These include always staying on the pavement, only crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing, and even then checking carefully for oncoming traffic.
- Ensure your child always wears a helmet and if possible, knee and elbow pads while riding his bike/ scooter.
- When it comes to kick scooters, keep in mind that the ones with three wheels are generally more stable than those with two wheels, and easier to maneuver.
- Get the brakes of scooters and bikes checked carefully, regularly.
Reference: Channel NewsAsia, Image: screengrab Roads.sg Facebook video.
Stay safe on the roads!