What You Need to Know About Pedestrian and Crossing Safety
Every parent celebrates their child’s milestones: turning over, sitting up, crawling, first words, and first steps. Walking means independence and access to an exciting new world. However, toddlers are mindless, impulsive explorers. Their physical development is far beyond their judgment. They can run to the edge of the sidewalk with no sense that they should not enter the street. A parent cannot turn away for watching a toddler even for an instant.
Even small children cannot judge speed, distance, and spatial relationships. Constant supervision of small children is the only way to keep these walking/running dynamos out of harms way. When out walking with your child, set an example for proper pedestrian safety. So grab your child’s hand and go for a safe and fun walk!
How can I keep my child safe?
Do not allow children to play in driveways, unfenced yards, streets, or parking lots. Due to their small size and limited experience, toddlers (ages 1 to 2) sustain the highest number of pedestrian injuries. More than half of all toddler pedestrian injuries occur when a vehicle is backing up. Children ages 4–years and under are at greatest risk for pedestrian-related deaths and injuries.
Children, ages 5-10 years old, often overestimate their abilities. A ball or a friend easily distracts them. They lose focus. Because of their size, drivers often do not see elementary-age children hidden by bushes, snow banks and parked cars. Children under age 10 should not cross streets by themselves. Teach children they must hold your hand or a hand of an adult when crossing the street.
Once they learn the rules of pedestrian safety, children, 10 years and over can cross streets safely without close supervision. Children learn about road safety from experience and the example you set. Explain and practice pedestrian skills with your children until they show you they are safe pedestrians.
Model proper pedestrian behavior every time you are out walking with your child. Stop before crossing, cross at street corners, use traffic signals and crosswalks when available.
They must always cross with a parent/grown-up and they must hold hands.
Teach children to look LEFT, RIGHT, FRONT, BACK, and then LEFT again before crossing a street, and to continue looking around when crossing. Wait until there are no moving cars before crossing.
Explain to children that seeing the driver in a vehicle does not mean that the driver can see them. Tell them to make sure they can see the driver’s eyes before crossing. Tell children not to cross roads near the top of a hill or in a bend in the road. It is hard for drivers to see them in these places.
Tell children to watch out for cars that are turning or backing up.
Teach children that they must never run into the street - even for a ball, pet or any other reason. If a ball bounces into the street, they should ask an adult to get it for them. Children darting out between vehicles and dashing across intersections account for 60 to 70 percent of the total pedestrian injuries for children under the age of 10.
When walking along a street with no sidewalks, teach children to walk facing oncoming traffic, as far left as possible.
At dawn and dusk, children should wear reflective clothing and shoes and carry flashlights.
Teach children to cross the street at least 10 feet in front of a school bus.
Children should wait for adults on the same side of the street where the school bus loads and unloads.
Encouraging children to walk in groups.
Organizing responsible adults to accompany the children as they walk to and from school.
Teaching and practicing safe pedestrian behavior on the walk to and from school.
Empowering neighborhoods to work together with local agencies, such as the department of public works, to identify and create safe routes to school.
Partnering with local police to enforce speeds in and around the neighborhood and school.
Provide crossing guards for children on their way to and from school.
What should children know about crossing the street
During your daily walks, teach your children pedestrian and crossing safety. Tell children:
Do not cross the street. Cross with a grown-up, not by yourself.
Cross only at the corners.
“Cross at the green, not in between”: Only cross when you see a “walk” sign, or (if the corner does not have a walk/don’t walk sign) when the traffic light is green.
Always wait for cars to stop. Look for cars in all directions (left, right, left, plus front and back) before you step into the street to cross.
Be alert for turning vehicles. They are often so busy checking traffic and turning that they will not see pedestrians.
Walk on the sidewalk, not in the street.
Never play in the road, in driveways, or in parking lots.
Do not enter the street from between parked cars or behind bushes or shrubs.
Never chase balls, toys, pets, etc. into the street. Ask a grown-up to get them for you instead.
Wear reflective clothing/tape and (when possible) carry a flashlight while walking after dark.
Walking in Safety
Where to get help and more information
Walk This Way has safety information and pointers for safe walking and crossing the street for parents and children.
The CDC’s Kids Walk to School site tells how to create safe walking routes.
The National Safe Routes helps communities plans strategies for safe walking and biking routes.
Advocate for a Safer Walking Community
There are things you can do to make your community safe for walking. Here are some:
Identify your community needs to make it a safe and pleasant walking environment, such as pedestrian bridges, sidewalks, and signal lights.
Find the community members, police, engineers, politicians, educators, to help you.
Hold a meeting to set a vision. Create a timetable.
Campaign for funds dedicated to safer walking environments at the federal, state and local levels.
Push for lower speed limits in residential areas, and for pedestrians crosswalks and walkways. Advocate for enforcing laws such as those that prohibit vehicles from passing stopped school buses that are receiving or unloading passengers. Tough enforcement of traffic laws and high penalties for lawbreakers are proven strategies that reduce pedestrian death and injury.
Check out the walking safety of your community. Print these two pages from the National Center for Safe Routes for Children (DOT) and take them with you on your next walk.