Lesson for life

A child's best road safety teachers are its parents

Why?

Because basic road safety can only be taught in the street. Children are out and about with parents, following their example good or bad.

Parents should not wait for the school to teach road safety it is the responsibility of all parents to give children the basic road safety skills.

The facts are:

• Every year, over 140 children are killed and 4,500 seriously injured while walking and cycling, many of them close to their homes
• Another 60 die and over 1,100 are seriously injured travelling in cars
• The most dangerous age is when children start middle school
• Boys are at much greater risk than girls when walking or cycling
• Boys are 5 times more likely than girls to be killed or seriously injured
• Those children aged 12 – 15 are the most likely to be killed or seriously injured. Although they know the Green Cross Code

Ages 1 to 4 > Protect your Child

• Never let a child less than 5 years out alone
• They cannot cope with traffic, even with an older child
• Choose somewhere safe for children to play, playing on the pavement or in the road however quiet can be dangerous and should be avoided. If there is nowhere else for children to go, they must be supervised by an adult
• When children are out walking they should walk on the inside of the pavement, parents keeping a tight hold of their hands if not on their reins or in a pushchair. Young children should never be allowed to ride a bike or trike on the road, or a scooter or skate board
• Every child should learn about traffic before going to school.

Ages 5 to 6 > The Basic Training

Whenever children are out walking, parents should hold their hands and talk about what they are doing and why. Teach the main points of the Green Cross Code.