Teaching children pedestrian safety
Children need help to learn how to cross the road safely. And there’s a lot you can do as a parent or carer to support them.
You can use your walks together to practice the Green Cross Code. Your good habits crossing the road safely can become theirs.
And you can help older children to learn how to assess risk, judge speed and understand consequences especially when getting ready for walking to school.
Lead by example on road safety
Children will copy what you do, so try to avoid stepping into the road without making it obvious you’re checking it’s safe to cross first.
If you can demonstrate how to do the right thing, it will help children get into good habits.
Introducing younger children to pedestrian safety
Young children can be very unpredictable and quick, which can be a dangerous combination as they can catch their parents off guard. Being out and about can be very exciting for a toddler with so many distractions – they can run off and be out of sight in seconds, which can put them in dangerous situations. That’s why younger children need lots of hand-holding and supervision.
Cars are responsible for more accidental childhood deaths than any other cause. While a toddler may recognise a car, they will not have the first idea of the potential dangers.
Here’s how to keep young children safe:
- Encourage young children to get into the habit of holding your hand or you can use walking reins if you want added security.
- Walk with the child on the inside of the pavement, with the adult kerb-side, remembering to swap when you cross the road
- Set a good example when crossing the road by choosing a safe place to cross, and from a young age talk to your child about what you are doing
- Ask questions while you’re out walking near roads to help them understand simple ideas like ‘fast’ and ‘slow’.
- Make sure the garden gate is secure so they can’t get out of the garden and into the road.
Remember, you can talk to young children about road safety, but don’t expect them to remember the rules for themselves just yet.
Learning the Green Cross Code
It’s never too early to start teaching children the Green Cross Code, encouraging children to stop, look, listen and think with you before crossing the road. It can be a fun activity to teach children while you’re on the school run or a walk to the park. And your good habits crossing the road can soon become theirs.
But remember they still need your help. Younger children find it difficult to judge the speed and distance of traffic – so they don’t know when it’s safe to cross the road. And, they won’t always remember road safety rules, especially if they’re distracted or spot a friend across the road.
Think
Find the safest place to cross. Where possible use a pedestrian crossing.
Avoid crossing between parked cars, at bends in the road or close to the top of the hill to make sure drivers can see you.
Stop!
Stand on the pavement near the kerb and make sure you can clearly see the traffic.
Don’t get too close to the traffic and give yourself lots of time to look around.
Look and listen
Look in every direction and be sure to listen carefully for things you can’t yet see.
Sometimes you can hear dangers before you can see them.
Wait
Wait until it’s safe to cross. If traffic is coming, let it pass. If you’re not sure, don’t cross.
Only cross when there is a safe gap and plenty of time to cross. Remember, traffic may seem far away but it may be moving quickly.
Look and listen again
When it is safe, walk straight across the road. Don’t run. Keep looking and listening.
Look out for bicycles, scooters and motorcyclists travelling between lanes of traffic and do not cross diagonally.
Helping older children to stay safe when out and about
Accidents peak around age 12 when children are starting to make independent journeys, such as walking to school alone or going out with friends. And, more than half of serious accidents happen between 3pm and 7pm, coinciding with after-school hours.
That’s because:
- Children of this age can still find it difficult to judge speed and distance as accurately as an adult.
- Their smaller height makes them less visible to drivers and means they may not be able to see over cars and other obstacles clearly if crossing in unsafe places.
- They can be easily distracted by their devices and listening to music and step out without looking.
- Their behaviour can be unpredictable if they’re full of pent up energy and excited to be out of school or they’re in a rush.
- They might take more risks when they’re with friends.
Before your child starts walking to school independently you can help prepare them by:
- Give children as much supervised experience of crossing roads as you can before they start to go out and about alone.
- Encourage them to sit down and plan their route to school. They can map out what route to take and talk you through it.
- You can help build their confidence by practising the route together or starting with easier routes and building up to the school route.
- You can also try talking to them about what they would do if faced with the unexpected. Focus less on instructing them on the rules of the road and more on listening and asking questions to encourage them to think for themselves:
- Devices are a major distraction, so talk to your child about putting them away and having earphones out or off while crossing the road so they can look and listen
Learn more about preparing your child for walking to and from school alone.
Be bright, be seen
Visibility is a key issue all year round, all day round, whether children are walking or on their bike. However, over the autumn/winter months, it is especially important as the school day can start and end in twilight. Remember:
- Wear bright clothing during the day and reflective clothing or accessories after dark
- Always choose routes and cross at places that are well-lit
- Where possible, cross the road at a pedestrian crossing
- Remind older children who travel by themselves about road safety and the additional hazards in Autumn/Winter
- Devices can be a major distraction, so encourage your child to put them away and take any headphones out while crossing the road
- Drivers should be especially careful around schools and mindful of their speed when visibility is poor
