A Guide to Teaching Children Traffic & Road Safety

From a young age, children should learn about road safety. Children often lack the spatial awareness required for crossing a street or being near a road. Kids are also more likely to go unseen by drivers, which increases their chances of risk or injury. Accidents can happen unexpectedly and suddenly, so it is important for parents to instill safe habits that become second nature to kids. Properly explaining the dangers that cars can pose can help prevent serious mishaps.

Without proper supervision, children are susceptible to a number of risks on the road. Kids may find it difficult to gauge the presence, speed and distance of oncoming traffic. They are also likely to be absorbed or distracted by other activities, such as talking to another child, playing with objects or riding a bicycle. Adults can actively help children navigate their surroundings and develop road and traffic safety by instilling awareness at a young age.

Dangerous road and driver conditions can jeopardize the safety of kids. In addition to poor weather conditions which can make roads slick, drivers may be distracted or aggressive when taking to the road. Improper signage can also be problematic for otherwise conscientious drivers. Being aware of common scenarios can help ensure that you and your children know how to react.

Not all drivers give 100% of their attention to the road. Sometimes, they may be preoccupied by activities like singing along to the radio or talking on the phone. Sending a text message requires drivers to take their eyes off the road for multiple seconds, which can mean a driver will drive the length of a football field without paying attention. Checking directions may also lead a driver to avert their focus. In total, distracted driving claimed 3,142 lives in 2019.

Adults with young children need to practice awareness measures to avoid drivers who aren’t completely aware of their surroundings. When your own children are in the car, it’s important to minimize their temper tantrums and general discomfort. Adults can plan ahead by keeping their children occupied with books or movies. In the worst case scenario, it’s best to pull over to attend to a child’s needs rather than dealing with an issue while trying to stay concentrated on the road.

Road rage leads to aggressive driving behaviors which can put other drivers, pedestrians and kids at risk. Aggressive drivers may disobey traffic signs, fail to observe safety zone laws or drive over the speed limit. Other typical behaviors include changing lanes frequently or yelling at other drivers. Often, drivers resort to such aggressive driving habits when faced with traffic congestion beyond their control.

You can avoid potentially dangerous situations by letting aggressive drivers pass, leaving sufficient space between yourself and a speeding driver, and driving defensively. In some situations, you may even want to call the police and alert them to an extremely reckless driver. Remember, adults who exhibit aggressive driving behavior in front of children can impact their kids’ habits and manners and influence how they drive in the future. To foster good driving values, keep calm and drive courteously.

Inadequate road signage can cause accidents. For instance, faded crosswalk paint can lead children to cross the road in the wrong place, and a missing stop sign can make other drivers run through an intersection. To ensure your safety and the safety of other pedestrians and drivers, use caution whenever you are in or around other cars. Slow down or stop when approaching an intersection, look for other vehicles at intersections even if a stoplight flashes green and reduce speed when approaching a construction zone.

Reporting dangerous road conditions helps keep everyone safer. Contact these agencies depending on your situation:

• Your state’s Department of Transportation. Call your state's Department of Transportation to report highway issues like potholes, uneven pavement or abrupt road edges. Your city or county road maintenance division can also handle local road problems.
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Report vehicle, tire, car seat or equipment safety problems to NHTSA. The agency reviews complaints to identify widespread defects, and your report could protect other drivers.
• A local homeowner’s association. Your HOA can address unsafe conditions in your neighborhood. Most HOAs handle neighbor safety concerns and property owner issues.

Road and traffic safety should be revisited and taught to children as they grow up. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to incorporate safety lessons in daily life and make learning fun. Depending on a child’s age, you may want to adapt differing lessons and practices. Those under the age of five can be taught the basics of traffic awareness and school-age children can be shown how to start becoming aware of cars. Those above the age of nine can be taught how to walk alone on sidewalks and make safer choices while bicycling or doing other activities near a road.

Parents and adult caregivers play a vital role in teaching children road safety skills. As children receive guidance about how to safely cross a road or walk near cars, such behaviors become ingrained motor skills. Beyond verbal lessons, demonstrating safety precautions in a vehicle can also help children learn driving strategies to implement later in life. Such knowledge has been proven to help children interact with traffic safely.

You can teach your children about road safety in this fun board game, "Safe Paths to School." The gameplay dives into important road safety information, such as understanding traffic signs, crossing the street safely and behaving appropriately in a car.

Ages: 4–12

Supplies:

• Game board and game material printables
• 6-Sided die (optional)
• Tape or glue stick
• Scissors

Teaching children about road and traffic safety is a must, but they shouldn’t be given more information than they can handle. Compared to those who are toddlers, those aged 12 and above have a better ability to learn how to assess risk on the road and make informed decisions. Remember that the rational part of even a teen’s brain isn’t fully developed until about age 25. Below are a few basic road rules and strategies to consider based on a child’s age group.

Toddlers, or those aged three and under, are too young to truly understand the risk and danger that comes with being on or near the road. Kids in this age group are often the ones who end up running into the road to chase a toy or following something that has caught their attention without looking both ways on a street.

To mitigate the risk, toddlers should be taught the basics of road safety. One of the most important lessons to impart is to never to be near a road without an adult holding their hand. Kids below the age of three should also begin having an awareness and understanding of where the sidewalk ends and the road begins. Knowing the difference between roads, sidewalks, crosswalks and driveways can significantly reduce the likelihood of accidents.

Alternatively, you can play a quick round of “I Spy” and point out sidewalks, traffic lights and other familiar road features in simple terms. This helps toddlers recognize these areas more quickly and connect them with safe behavior.

Children ages three to five need adult supervision near roads. Kids this age can recognize road signs like the hexagonal STOP sign and understand "stop, look and listen." They also know colors like green, yellow and red. Make up stories about road signs and explain what traffic lights signal to help them learn.

Preschoolers are not yet equipped to cross the street alone, but they are easily influenced by those around them and can be taught how to walk on sidewalks furthest away from traffic. The best way to teach road safety skills is through demonstration. Exhibit good behaviors by wearing a seatbelt, obeying road rules and always looking both ways before crossing a road. Children will be likely to imitate safe routines.

At school age, or between five and eight, it’s still important that children are accompanied or at least supervised by an adult while on the road — even if only traveling a short distance from a bus stop to a house. However, they can learn and begin to remember safer paths and lead the way without always holding an adult’s hand.

Teach children about safe crossing spots: crosswalks, underpasses and footbridges. They should recognize crossing guards and read basic traffic signs. Test their understanding with simple questions: What does the red light mean at a crosswalk? What should you do before crossing the road? Can you take shortcuts through the neighborhood that avoid roads entirely?

Children ages nine to 12 can learn more directly about road dangers, but don't overwhelm them with too much information at once. This age marks when some kids can walk independently, though readiness depends on each child's development and neighborhood safety.

Kids who understand and practice pedestrian safety rules are likely ready for independence. Others need more supervision. Test readiness by letting your child lead the walk to school. Watch whether they cross streets safely and navigate correctly. Quiz them about familiar landmarks and road signs along the route.

Road safety rules change based on the situation. Crossing rules don't apply when kids play at the park. Here are scenarios that show how to teach traffic safety in different settings.

Teaching children about road safety works best when adults model defensive driving. Safe driving protects children, pedestrians and others from accidents and injuries, especially in dangerous pedestrian areas. It also lowers your auto insurance premiums, keeps your driving record clean, improves employment opportunities and protects your health. 

Whether you're new to driving or have years of experience, review your habits and adjust to reduce risk.

Phones and electronic devices can be highly distracting, but technology can also be used to help drivers arrive at their destinations. Many apps such as Google Maps are used every day, but a variety of others for both Android and IOS systems can be useful when it comes to brushing up on common traffic rules and being a safer driver. Below are three road safety apps that are worth downloading.

• TrueMotion Family: This app tracks risky driving behaviors and recommends improvements. You earn "safety points" for safe driving, which you can redeem for cash or other rewards.
• DriveSmart: DriveSmart tracks and improves your driving. You can earn a certificate, view driving metrics, collect points to redeem with partners and more. The app prevents distracted driving by muting notifications when you start driving.
• EverDrive: EverDrive ranks drivers against family and friends to show who drives safest. You can win prizes and qualify for auto insurance discounts with a good driving score. Poor scores trigger lessons on safer driving habits.

Adults who want to practice road safety and ensure that their kids stay safe on the road can look to the following resources.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: The CDC provides illustrated guides showing how to buckle safety belts and use car seats and booster seats correctly.
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Adults and children need to learn pedestrian safety basics. NHTSA provides statistics and resources on staying safe near roads.
• American Red Cross: The Red Cross offers a guide on what to do while waiting for emergency services. Strategies include carrying a disaster kit, keeping snacks on hand and monitoring weather forecasts.
• Nemours Kids Health: Nemours provides a quick guide for adults on keeping kids safe in the car or while waiting for the school bus.