Be a Safe Pedestrian
Getting your family to go out for a walk is great, but sometimes kids are eager to get out there on their own. If they are old enough to go out by themselves, you should help prepare them by discussing safety tips when it comes to being a pedestrian.
To help prevent your child from getting hurt as a pedestrian, the National SAFE KIDS Campaign recommends the following tips:
- Children under age 10 should not be allowed to cross streets by themselves.
- Teach proper pedestrian behavior by modeling pedestrian behavior correctly, such as crossing at street corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks when available, and making eye contact with drivers before crossing.
- Teach children to look LEFT, RIGHT, and then LEFT again when crossing a street, and to continue looking around when crossing.
- Teach children that seeing the driver in a vehicle does not mean that the driver can see them.
- Do not allow children to play in driveways, unfenced yards, streets, or parking lots.
- When walking along a street with no sidewalks, teach children to walk facing oncoming traffic, as far left as possible.
- At dawn and dusk, children should wear reflective materials and carry flashlights.
- Teach children to cross the street at least 10 feet in front of a school bus.
- Children should wait for adults on the same side of the street where the school bus loads and unloads.
It is important to encourage your child to become more active, but with most things, safety should always come first. Teach your child these basic tips and they will be able to enjoy being outside in the safest way possible.
Above content provided by Children’s Hospital Boston in partnership with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. For advice about your medical care, consult your doctor.
Posted May 2009
