Education

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

• Put reins on a younger child, if they are not strapped in a pushchair

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

• Never let you child go near a road alone or even with an older child

• Children are generally not ready to cross roads on their own until they are at lease 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 are 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 cannot see far along the road

• Explain that they should not try to cross between parked cars; driver's 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

Watch "Toys" learning the Green Cross Code on You Tube (external website)

Pedestrian Crossings

You might feel that pedestrian crossings are safe, but they can still be dangerous for children if they don't take care.

Remember to;

• Explain that pedestrians have to wait on the pavement until all the traffic coming from both directions has stopped, only then is it safe to cross

• Explain that there is an island in the middle of the road, your child should treat each half of the crossing as a separate crossing

• Tell your child it's important to keep looking and listening whilst crossing, in case a driver as not seen them

• Warn your child to watch for cyclists or motorcyclists who might not have seen them

• Make sure your child can be seen easily, bright or fluorescent clothes are best during the day and reflective materials work well at night

• Always use a Zebra or light controlled crossing, or a school crossing patrol if there is one.

For more information and to access to Educational Resources - (external website)

Knowing the Green Cross Code

Children should not go out alone until they are old enough to know the Green Cross Code and use it properly.

The age is different for all children, but it is generally not before they are eight years old.

To follow the code, they must;

• Find a safe place to cross

• Stand on the pavement near the kerb

• Look all round for traffic and listen

• If traffic is coming, let it pass then look all round again

• When there is no traffic near, walk straight across the road

• Keep looking and listening for traffic whilst crossing

Watch "Toys" learning the Green Cross Code on You Tube (external website)

When walking along the road

Walking is healthier that going by car. But your child can't always see what you can see and drivers can't always see your child, where they can see you.

You could teach your child to;

• Always walk on the pavement or path if there is one, never stray on the road

• Walk as far away from the kerb as possible

• Walk in a single file on the right side of the road facing the traffic if  there is no pavement

When you are out and about

Always be sure to;

• Explain road safety rules

• Use the Green Cross Code

• Talk about what's going on in the street

• Encourage your child to talk about what they see on the roads and whether it's safe or not

• Let you child make decisions with you, so they learn through activity

• Help your child plan the safest route whenever they are going somewhere

Using Crossings

Teach your child to;

• Always use the Green Cross Code

• Wait at the kerb by the crossing, so drivers know they want to cross

• At a signal crossing, press the button and wait for the green man to light up and never walk out

• Never cross the road whilst using their mobile phone or listening to music on head phones

• Stay alert at all times, remember cyclists and motorcyclists use the roads as well as drivers.

For more information and to access to Educational Resources - (external website)

Bus Safety

Make sure your child know;

• To stop, look and listen before they cross any road

• That they should stay on the footpath or the verge until the bus has moved far away

• To act sensibly on and around school buses

• About the dangers of traffic being hidden from their view by the school bus

• Never to cross the road in front of the bus

Bus Departure times & Travel Information (external website)

Help protect your Teenager

You could talk to your child and reinforce road safety messages to help them keep safe;

• Stress the need to concentrate and be careful at all times

• Warn of the dangers of distractions, for example, listening to music, texting, phoning and chatting to friends

• Keep talking about the dangers of traffic

• Point out people who are endangering themselves

• Encourage your teenager to practice judging the speed and distance of approaching vehicles on busy roads and identify safe gaps in the traffic

• Stress that your child should never lose concentration and follows other blindly into dangerous situations

Cycling

It is a good idea to;

• Buy and encourage your teenager to wear a cycle helmet and something fluorescent and reflective to improve their visibility

• Encourage your child to never take lifts on the back of a friends bike

• Ask your child never to listen to music whilst they are cycling

• Make sure your child knows that cyclists must obey all traffic light signals

For more information and to access to Educational Resources - (external website)

Bus Safety

Your teenagers probably take the bus to school and back all the time, maybe even every day. In fact, they're probably used to it, they do it without paying much attention. But not paying attention could cost them their lives. It only takes a moments lapse of concentration to cause death or serious injury.

So your children should always expect the unexpected and never take risks going to and from the bus or crossing roads nearby.

You should remind them;

• Just because they are not small children, does not mean they should not use The Green Cross Code

• Just because their friends are chatting doesn't mean it's safe for them

• Most school bus related collisions happen to pupils before they get to or after they leave the bus

For Bus Departure times & Travel Information (external website)

Peace of mind

You could try discussing the following points and finding an answer for each of them;

• What will they do if they miss the last bus home?

• Do they have a mobile (fully charged), money or know how to reverse charges if they need you?

• What should your teenager do if they have to stay behind at school?