7 Potentially Life Saving Road Safety Tips for Kids

March 9th, 2014  |  Insurance

With the warming weather, kids will soon will be shedding our hats and mitts and spending more time outside. As a parent, it is important to review road safety with your child to make them aware of the rules of the road. We’ve put together a list of tips that will help your child make safer decisions near roadways and avoid potential hazards.

Here are 7 potentially lifesaving road safety tips that all kids need to know:

1. Stop and check your surrounding before stepping onto the road: Never walk out on the road before checking your surroundings. Stop, look both ways, and then step onto the road when it is clear of all traffic.
2.  Learn the rules of the road: The more kids know about the rules of the road and traffic laws, the better decisions they will be able to make. Understanding traffic signs, the rules the road and the predicted behaviour of drivers will help them make better decisions.
3. Always cross at pedestrian crosswalks and intersections: Jaywalking is not only illegal, it could also put you in a dangerous situation. Every year people are hit and even killed when jaywalking. Kids do not have the same ability to judge speed, distance and how traffic operates. It is always better to walk the extra distance to cross at an intersection or crosswalk.
4. Always make eye contact with drivers before cross the street: Whether you are crossing at the crosswalk, a traffic light or at a four way stop, it is important that you always make eye contact with drivers before you start to cross the street. When you make eye contact, this ensures that the driver sees you and confirms that it is safe to proceed.
5. Never cross between parked cars and other obstructions: Always avoid crossing the street between parked cars or from behind large objects such as trees and street signs. They make it more difficult for drivers to see you when you enter the road. 
6.  Choose play areas wisely: Avoid playing in parking lots, at the end of driveways, or on busy streets that have a high volume of traffic. If you are playing at the school yard or park, be aware of the traffic volume in the area and be careful when you are near the road.
7. Always be aware of your surroundings: Listening to music, texting, and playing with your phone while walking has become common for kids. However, this has also created a large amount of distracted pedestrians who are not always aware of their surroundings. Pedestrians need to pay attention to where they are walking and obey all the rules of the road. Keep your eyes on where you are going and make sure that your music is at a level where you can still hear what is going on around you.

Are your kids aware of these road safety tips? What do you teach them about road safety? What is the best tip that you think all kids need to understand about road safety?