Road Safety Reminders

Walking safely together to and from school

Walking to and from school is a great way to spend time with your child and encourage safe and healthy behaviours. 

Here are a few tips to help keep your child safer as a pedestrian:

• Plan, practise and talk with your child about being alert in the road environment
• Until your child is at least 8 years old, always hold their hand, as they can be easily distracted. Children need your help to spot dangers.
• Then, up until at least 10 years old, supervise your child very closely, and hold their hand when crossing the road. 
• Always use pedestrian crossings where possible.
• Meet your child near the school gate. Never call them from across the road. 
• Explain why the places you have chosen to cross are the safest. Talk to them about why they should stop, look, listen, think before crossing a driveway, road or car park.

Children learn safe road user habits from you and will continue them when they are old enough to travel alone.

Key road safety messages to share with your child in Kindergarten to Year 2:

• Hold a grown-up's hand when:
  • you cross the road
  • you're on the footpath
  • you're in a car park

Key road safety messages to share with your child in Years 3-6:

• Hold an adult's hand when you cross the road (until at least 10)
• Use a safe place to cross the road
• Stop! Look! Listen! Think! every time you cross the road and keep checking until safely across

STOP! one step back from the kerb

LOOK! continuously both ways

LISTEN! for the sounds of approachin traffic

THINK! whether it is safe to cross and keep checking until safely across

For more information on keeping children safe in the road environment visit the families section on https://safetytown.com.au