Staying Safe on the Roads

By setting a good example, you can ensure your child remains safe and develops road and traffic awareness. You might also want to follow these simple tips when crossing the road with your child.

Walking on the Pavement

When walking near a road it is a good idea to:

• hold your child's hand - don't let them run ahead
• look out for and encourage your child to be aware of hidden entrances or driveways crossing the pavement
• make sure your child walks on the side of the pavement away from the traffic

It can be hard for motorists to see small children, especially when they are reversing, so take extra care.

Children are generally not ready to cross roads on their own until they are at least eight years old - and many will not be ready even then.

Crossing the Road

When the time comes to teach your child about crossing the road, remember the following:

• always set a good example by choosing a safe place to cross and explaining what you're doing
• let your child help you decide where and when it's safe to cross
• tell your child that it's safest to cross at a pedestrian crossing or a crossing patrol
• tell your child not to cross where they can't see far along the road
• explain that they should not try to cross a road between parked cars; drivers won't be able to see them very well and the cars might start moving
• use the Green Cross Code with your child - explain that you have to stop at the kerb, then look both ways and listen for traffic before crossing
• when it's safe to cross, walk straight across the road and keep looking and listening out for traffic
• remind your children to concentrate - they may be easily distracted, forget what they have been taught and dash out into the road
• make sure that anyone else looking after your child follows the same road safety rules that you do