 A Guide For Parents
Traffic collisions are a leading cause of death for children under 15 years of age. In 2005, many of the fatalities among young pedestrians occurred before and after school, and 82 percent occurred at non-intersection locations.
Children's involvement in traffic collisions peaks between five and nine years of age - when youngsters are just beginning school. Children in this age group generally lack the knowledge and experience needed to deal safely with many traffic situations. That's why traffic safety education is so important, both at school and in the home.
You can lessen the hazards your children face - by teaching safe walking habits and involving your children in the selection of the safest route to and from school.
- Discuss the safest route to and from school or the school bus stop.
- Map out the route you help your children select.
- Talk about why it is safer to cross at some corners rather than others - and to use crosswalks.
- Walk along with your children on the safest route you've helped them select, so they may become familiar with it.
- Discuss the meanings of the traffic signals and markings along the route to school or the school bus stop.
- Help your children understand how important it is to cooperate with police, school safety patrols and adult crossing guards.
- Teach your children to stop, listen, and look for approaching and turning vehicles, especially those turning right on red.
- Stress the importance of allowing enough time to cross the street safely.
- Make sure your children understand they must walk, not run, across the street - and continue to look for vehicles.
- If your children have a good understanding of left and right, introduce the concept of looking left-right-left before crossing.
- Encourage and praise your children for following guidelines for safe walking every day.
- Above all, set a good example for your children - their actions and attitudes are modeled after yours!
- Go directly to and from school or the bus stop.
- Cross at corners.
- Cooperate with police, school safety patrols and adult crossing guards.
- Search in all directions for approaching vehicles before crossing any street.
- Obey all traffic signals.
- WALK across streets. Allow yourself plenty of time.
- Watch for vehicles that might turn.
- If you must walk on roads that have no sidewalks, walk facing traffic and as far from the roadway surface as possible.
- Be extra alert in bad weather. Drivers have trouble seeing and stopping in bad weather.
- If you must walk after dark, wear some thing reflective or light-colored and carry a flashlight.
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The AAA School Safety Patrol program has helped improve safe travel to and from school since the 1920’s. More than 500,000 students have participated in this program, many of whom include presidents, Olympic athletes, and astronauts.
