ROAD SAFETY
Gaining Independance
As your child gets older they are likely to want to become an independent traveller.
Walking to and from school with your child helps ease traffic congestion, reduces your carbon footprint, promotes physical activty and provides a talking point about road safety. The Transport for NSW website has more information on active transport.
Before allowing your child to walk to school by themselves, talk with them about the responsibility and the importance of making safe decisions. Remind them that the decisions they make will affect their safety, and that of other road users.
You know that what works for one child may not work with another. Every child acts differently around traffic. Ensure you know how your child may act or react in a changing traffic environment. This will help you to decide when to allow them to walk to school independently.
Before you let your child to walk to school independently, plan the journey together and have a practice run.
You should also ensure your child knows and understands:
the pedestrian road rules
their responsibility as a pedestrian towards the safety of others
the importance of not using mobile phones and other devices in the traffic environment
a safe, alternative way home if something changes
Other pedestrian safety tips include:
Always use pedestrian facilities if available.
Never assume that a driver can see you or will stop for you.
Make sure drivers see you and have stopped before you cross the road or driveway.
Check for turning vehicles before you leave the kerb and when crossing driveways.
At school, your child will learn about road safety as part of Personal Development, Health and Physical Education. Help them learn the pedestrian safety messages by using them and sharing them whenever you are out and about.
Students in Stage 2
Hold an adult's hand when you cross the road
Use a safe place to cross the road
Students in Stage 3
Stop! Look! Listen! Think! every time you cross the road
Use a safe place to cross the road
Find out more about keeping your child safe in the road enironment in our fact sheets.