Back to school: Tips for a safer school journey

As children get ready to head back to school, it’s a good time to think about the school journey and how you can make it safer.

So, here are some of our top tips.

Is your child ready to walk to school alone?

For some children, starting to walk to school without an adult is an exciting new step towards independence. But there’s lots to think about before they’re ready.

Our guide to walking to school alone helps you decide when your child might be ready and offers tips on how to prepare them for the journey.

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Be safe and be seen

As the days get shorter and children are travelling to and from school in darker conditions, it’s important they’re easy to see.

Choosing a brightly coloured school coat or jacket can help children stand out to drivers, particularly in poor weather or low light. If a school’s uniform policy dictates darker colours, reflective strips can be added to increase visibility.

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Electric scooters

School children across the country are increasingly travelling to school by electric scooters. But it’s actually against the law for anyone – child or adult – to ride a privately owned e-scooter on a public road, cycle path, footpath or pavement.

Some schools are now alerting parents to what the law says and introducing policies that ban students from bringing e-scooters onto their grounds.

And remember, even where riding an e-scooter is legal, an accident can cause life-altering head injuries and even death. So, helmets are a must.

Cycle safety

Cycling is a great way to travel to school. But before your child can safely ride on the road, they must be properly trained so they can stay safe and cope with traffic.

Most schools offer cycle training for children which will build their confidence and help them stay safe on the roads.

Alternatively, Bikeability, Cycle Training Wales and Cycling Scotland offer courses to help children cycle confidently and safely.

Plus, don’t forget to wear a helmet and high-visibility clothing.

Learn more about cycling safety

A quick note on devices

Many families get their child a phone when they start to make journeys by themselves. But, devices can be a major distraction and the cause of many accidents. So, encourage your child to put their phone in their bag or pocket on the way home and take headphones out while crossing roads so they can concentrate.

You could get them to put their headphones on and, with music playing, ask how much traffic they could hear coming. Or, have them read messages on their phone while you fire questions at them. This shows how hard it is to concentrate when they’re distracted.

Safer journeys by car

For families who drive to school, the journey is another opportunity to build safer habits for your child’s future. You can talk whilst you travel about different aspects of road safety such as speed limit signs, different types of crossings and the importance of wearing a seatbelt.

Backseat Boss resources for primary schools are designed to help children speak up about safer driving and encourage parents and carers to make safer choices behind the wheel.

Ask your school if they can run a session for your child’s class.

Explore the free Backseat Boss resources