There are many important lessons that a parent has the responsibility of teaching their child to prevent and reduce potential risks to their wellbeing. One key aspect in which you should aim to focus your efforts is road safety, as it’s a particularly dangerous area that requires attention and acknowledgement. Unfortunately, 4,375 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents in 2013, but this figure simply shows how important it is to educate your family about staying safe whilst out on the roads. If you want to learn more about road safety, then read on to uncover some helpful information and ideas that you can utilise today.
Talk Through The Basics
It’s vital that you can sit down with your little ones to go through the most basic road safety steps that they need to stay out of harm’s way. Slowly introduce them to walking by the roadside, and make your first lesson about where pedestrians can walk and where cars can drive. Be sure to make the distinction clear that the road is for cars and only cars, whilst pedestrians can walk safely on the sidewalk. Whenever you need to cross the road, find a traffic light station and emphasise the fact that you are waiting until the man turns green to signal it’s safe to walk. Do not allow your children to cross at any point in the road besides the traffic lights until they are old enough to make a proper informed decision. Always remind them to follow the green cross code whenever they cross the road, but make sure they are looking out for the green man rather than the circular green light that signifies car drivers to go.
Preteens & Teenagers
Once your child has reached a certain age or level of maturity where they can walk unaccompanied by an adult, you must make them aware of the dangers they may face whilst out on the road. It’s common for teenagers to walk with their earphones in whilst listening to music, but you must make it known that this can put them at risk, especially when crossing a road or turning a corner. Explain that it’s best to keep their hood down so that they have full vision of oncoming traffic, and aim to reduce any other distractions to focus on walking safely. They may wish to take their journey up a level and ride a bicycle rather than walk, which requires a lot more thought and risk prevention. Always make sure that they wear a helmet when riding a bicycle, as well as extra protection like knee and shoulder pads. If they do have to ride their bicycle on the road itself, ensure that they never travel alone and have their mobile phone ready to call in the event of an emergency.
Teaching your children about road safety has never been so simple when you are able to utilise the top tips and tricks detailed above. It’s so vital that you can educate them on how to stay out of harm’s way when close to a road, as risks and dangers are all too common.
