We all know how busy and dangerous our roads have become, so there is no better time than now to teach your children about road safety. And whether your children are toddlers or teens they can all be taught something new or refreshed on an old topic. From a young age we teach our children to hold an adult’s hand near the roadside and always look both ways to see if a car is coming. But it seems as they get older and they no longer require a hand to hold, and they become more at risk.
The key to road safety is to always set a good example. If you have a good awareness of safety on the road your child is more likely to grow up with the same values as you. Wherever possible you should wait to cross at a pedestrian crossing. Once there do not be tempted to go if there is no traffic but the red man is still on, wait for the green and teach your children that you should never cross before the green man appears.
A good tip is to always ask your child where they think a good place to cross a road would be, explaining the dangers of crossing just before a bend or behind parked cars. This will get them thinking and stop them from just relying on you to guide them across the road, as after all one day they won’t have you there with them, so to know they understand what is the right way to cross a busy road will give you peace of mind when they go out on their own for the first time.
While road safety as a pedestrian is very important road safety as a cyclist is equally, if not more important if your child is ever going to cycle on the road. When you go out on a family bike, be sure to include small bouts of cycling on the road to ensure that they are completely comfortable and know all the safety procedures to avoid a road traffic accident. A helmet is an essential accessory to prevent injury in the event of a fall and reflective clothing is also a must for children when riding on the road, especially in winter or the dark when it is hard for motorists to see very far in front of them.
By teaching children early about the possible dangers that the road possesses they are more likely to stay safe, so why not start brushing up on your green cross code now!
Laura Clarke is a keen blogger currently working on behalf of UK law firm Pannone specialists in road traffic accident claims.
Nice post! A great reminder that I should go over these things with my little ones. I am super paranoid about them being around streets as it is. My little boy is 7 and I hold his hand in every parking lot and even NEAR streets. But I really need to go over things like this with him because I can’t always be there to hold his hand. 🙂
I think incorporating safety into everyday life and activities is a great way to teach it. When you’re crossing the street, talking about how to stay safe and ask for ideas. Kids are smart!