Your child needs to know how to be safe when they go places on foot. This is called pedestrian safety. It’s important to teach your child to be safe when they walk to prevent them from getting seriously injured, having a bad scare, or being killed.
Children get hurt while walking more often in September and October, then in May and June.
How you teach your child about pedestrian safety depends on their development. Try to explain pedestrian safety in ways your child will understand.
Start teaching your child about pedestrian safety as soon as they are old enough to walk with you. Keep teaching them as they grow.
Role model
Walk with your child often. Show them that you follow pedestrian safety rules.
Walk with your child
on the sidewalk or as far away from the road as possible, facing traffic.
Signs and signals
Teach your child what traffic safety signals and signs mean and how to obey them.
Crossing the road
Crossing the road can be especially dangerous for children. Have your child cross
only at crosswalks or corners or at marked railway crossings.
Teach your child to do the following before crossing the road:
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Point across the road with your arm to tell drivers that you are ready to cross.
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Pause until all vehicles stop and you have made eye contact with drivers.
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Proceed with your arm out, and keep looking both ways as you cross.
Remind your child to pay attention. It is not safe to listen to music, text, or talk to friends while crossing the road.
Busy areas
Most children are hit by a vehicle in city areas with heavy traffic, lots of parked cars, and few play spaces.
Never let your child play on the road or around or between parked cars. Make sure they know not to play in these places.
Walking alone
Before you let your child walk alone to school or in your neighbourhood, make sure they can cross the road safely.
Have them show you how they walk and cross safely.
Have your child wear light-coloured clothing so they are easy to see.
Drivers
If you are driving, always follow the posted speed limits.
Pay special attention in playground and school zones and anywhere that children might play. Be ready to stop at any time.
