What should I teach my child about road safety?
What you teach your child will vary depending on their age, but it’s important to make sure that they are aware of the dangers of roads, and how to keep themselves safe. The THINK website is a government initiative run by the Department for Transport and has safety information and resources for children of all ages from three to 16.
Top road safety tips:
- Before allowing your child to walk to school without an adult, spend time walking with them. Check their understanding of the road, where to cross, what to look out for, and make sure they know the route. Only let them walk without you when you are confident that they can be safe.
- Ensure that your child has something that is ‘high vis’ or reflective on them at all times when walking or cycling. For example, this could be a bike helmet, armband, jacket or bag charm. This helps them be seen by motorists and other road users.
- Arrange for your child to walk or cycle with other children, and perhaps take it in turns to walk with the group as a responsible adult.
- Reinforce with your child that their focus needs to be on the road and the traffic – using headphones and focusing on a mobile device when near a road could mean that they don’t see or hear possible dangers.
- Even if it takes longer, it’s always better to walk where it is well-lit.
For more information about staying safe on the roads, visit our Road Safety Pages.
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