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However you travel, take responsibility for your own safety. Don’t let your phone, games or music (or even your friends!) distract you from what’s going on around you.
When it comes to so-called accidental deaths, such as fire, drowning, poisoning or falls, traffic kills far more children and young people (excepting babies) than all of these events combined. Four out of five deaths of 10-19 year olds (excepting deaths from illness) are in road crashes. (see www.brake.org.uk )
Do some research before a new journey – plan routes and identify places where you might need to take extra care. Allow plenty of time to get there. If you are going by public transport, check the times and stops carefully. Always have a back-up plan in case there are problems.
You keep your skin clean. You condition your hair. You’re eating right. You’re doing all you can to look and feel great. But are you missing out on an important part of a healthier lifestyle?
No matter what your age or shape, you should exercise daily. Not only does exercise tone your body so you can wear your favorite jeans, it strengthens your muscles, keeps your bones strong, and improves your skin. And there are more benefits of exercise — increased relaxation, better sleep and mood, strong immune function, and more.
In addition, exercise boosts blood flow to the brain and helps it receive oxygen and nutrients. The better shape you’re in, the faster you fire brain waves that are responsible for quick thinking. So, for example, if maths is a real problem, you may find that daily exercise, such as walking or cycling to school helps to solve it!
Cars and other motor vehicles produce gases when they burn petrol or diesel. These include carbon dioxide (CO2), which contributes to global warming. Exhaust fumes also contain carbon monoxide and other toxic chemicals which are harmful to our planet and our health, causing breathing problems and even some cancers. When you are a passenger in a vehicle you can actually be exposed to 3 times more fumes than if you are walking or cycling.
Petrol and diesel are made from oil, which is a ‘fossil fuel’. There is only a limited amount left in the world, and it is getting harder to get it out from under the ground. (One of the reasons it is getting so expensive.) Perhaps in your lifetime there will be no more oil available, so scientists and engineers are busy looking for new ways to power vehicles – including solar, electricity, bio-fuels, hydrogen, even water!
It can be cheaper than using the car. Look out for special deals on tickets and passes for students, or if you don’t have much money coming in for your family, find out if you are eligible for a free school travel pass.
You can travel together with all your friends – there’s usually plenty of room.
You can travel without an adult – as long as you have the money for the ticket and behave responsibility.
Travelling by bus is good for the environment as well. One bus can hold loads of people, but takes up much less room on the road than all their cars, uses less fuel and makes less pollution too.
In the winter when it’s icy, the bus routes are gritted and cleared first so the buses can keep running. Much easier and safer than trying to get to school by car or bike.
Wait until the bus has stopped before standing up or getting off. If the bus is full and you have to stand on the journey, use the hand holds, and move as far down the bus as possible to let other people get on and off.
Drivers need to concentrate – don’t distract them while the vehicle is moving and don’t stand where you will block their view.
Stay safe at bus stops – stand well back from the edge of the road while you are waiting, especially if it’s crowded. Don’t push people or play around.
Cross safely- when you have got off the bus, wait until it has moved away from the stop before trying to cross so that you can see traffic clearly.
If you feel unsafe or are worried about something that has happened on the bus then tell the driver and also tell your parents, or your teacher if it is a school bus.
Lost your bus pass or money? – speak to the driver or someone at school if you need to travel today.
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