Central Coast Mayor Jane Smith will meet with Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation’s CEO Michelle McLaughlin on Tuesday 13 November to emphasise the importance of the ‘Hold My Hand’ road safety campaign.

Developed by the Foundation, the campaign promotes the importance of adults holding young children’s hands when they are close to roads. It began in 2014 after the death of Michelle’s four-year-old son Tom while the Sydney family was holidaying at MacMasters Beach. Tom stepped onto a road and was hit by a passing car.

Gosford Council was the first council in Australian to get behind the campaign, which has since been supported by dozens of other councils, including the former Wyong Council and now Central Coast Council.

Mayor Smith praised the success of the road safety campaign which arose from the tragedy.

“Hold My Hand is part of the Holiday Time campaign putting children front and centre in drivers’ mind to slow down in areas where children might be,” Mayor Smith said.

“This includes parks, playgrounds, beaches, shopping centres as well as suburban streets.

“The campaign uses bright colourful signs in these key areas to remind families that children under the age of 12 have limited visual and cognitive abilities around roadways and they are often too small for drivers to easily see them.

“We want visitors to the Coast, as well as our own local families, to create wonderful memories when they are holidaying.

“The simple act of holding a child’s hand combined with drivers slowing down will help protect children and literally save lives.”