Young children do not have the skills and abilities to stay safe in traffic. They often can’t see past parked cars and they don’t have the experience to judge the speed and distance of an oncoming car. Parents and carers should teach children good traffic safety habits early. Also, ask your child’s school or pre-school to consider introducing road safety education programs.
Helping your children to be safe in traffic
Children learn about road safety by watching others. Make sure you always set a good example. The following tips will help you to assist your children to be safe in traffic.
Children up to five years of age
Always carefully supervise your children in traffic situations:
- Hold your child’s hand when you are near cars.
- Explain what you are doing when you cross the road together. This helps your child to understand how you decide when it is safe to cross.
- Set a good example for your child to copy.
- Involve your child in choosing safe places to play.
- Ensure your child always rides on the footpath or a bicycle track with supervision.
- Make sure you get your child in and out of the car on the kerb side.
- Insist that children wear an appropriate and properly adjusted child restraint or seat belt on every car trip.
- Ask your child’s pre-school to run a road safety program.
From five to nine years of age
Supervise your child at all times near traffic:
- Talk about signs and traffic lights. Identify and discuss places where it is safe to cross the road.
- Teach your child how to cross roads using the ‘stop, look, listen and think’ process – stop at the kerb, look and listen for traffic and then decide whether it is safe to cross. Take the trip to school together along the safest footpaths and use safe crossing places.
- Supervise your child on the way to and from school.
- Limit bike riding to parks, playgrounds or schoolyards and on the footpath with supervision – never on the road without an adult.
- Insist that your child wears an approved helmet when riding a bike.
- Insist that your child wears an appropriate and properly adjusted seat belt or child restraint on every car trip.
- Ask at your child’s school what traffic safety programs are being taught.
From 10 to 13 years of age
Children of this age can cope more safely in traffic on their own, but you can still help to decrease the risk of accidents:
- Check that your child always ‘stops, looks, listens and thinks’ when crossing the road.
- Tell your child about road laws in simple terms. Go for rides and walks together.
- Plan safe routes to school and places your child often visits.
- Talk about where the child can safely ride.
- Insist that an approved bicycle helmet is worn.
- Make sure your child wears colours that are easy to see.
- Insist that properly adjusted seat belts are worn on every car trip.
Where to get help
- Safety Centre, Royal Children’s Hospital Tel. (03) 9345 5085
- VicRoads, Road Safety Telephone Information Line Tel. 1300 360 745
- RACV Tel. (03) 9790 2190
Things to remember
- Young children do not have the skills to be in road traffic on their own.
- An adult should always be with children in traffic situations.
- Children learn road safety habits by watching and copying others, so set a good example.
- Explain traffic movement, road safety and road rules to your child.
- Make sure your children wear helmets when riding and are properly secured when travelling in cars.
You might also be interested in:
Child safety - bikes.
Child safety - children and animals.
Child safety - hot weather.
Child safety - playground equipment.
Child safety - reducing injuries.
Child safety in the car.
Want to know more?
Go to More information for support groups, related links and references.
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