This week we have collaborated with Brake, the road safety charity which aims to teach young children about road safety as part of their annual Kids Walk campaign in June. The walk itself takes place on Wednesday 16th June, when thousands of children aged 4-11 will take part in a walk at school and at home to shout out for safe and healthy journeys for families. We thought this was a great time to get the essential road safety messages out there that all families need to know – over to Brake . . .
Road deaths and injuries
Sadly, road crashes remain one of the biggest causes of death and injury in children of all ages.
On average, six children are killed or seriously injured in road crashes in Britain every day – that’s equivalent to a whole class of children every single week.
We must do all we can to educate children on safe practices around roads and engage the wider community in how to keep all road users safe and to remain vigilant around schools and families.
Teaching children about road safety
Talk to your children about road safety. Even very young children should be taught about what they need to do to stay safe on our roads. Explain why there are rules to follow, and that cars are hard and heavy and can hurt them.
Discussions about road safety should always be approached with care. If someone you or your child knows has been affected by a road crash, talk to them about what happened and answer questions they may have with honesty and care.
The Green Cross Code
Sometimes it’s best to keep things simple and remember the Green Cross Code:
· Stop somewhere safe where you can see
· Listen for traffic
· Look right, look left, look right again
· Keep looking and listening and only cross when you are sure it’s safe
Different ways to travel
At Brake, we recommend that until the age of 10 children should always ride with an adult on safe cycle paths. Helmets must be worn to protect the head in case children fall off their bike.
One of the best ways to teach children about road safety is to lead by example, choose safe and healthy ways to travel including active walking and cycling and always wear your helmet and cross the road safely.
After the pandemic there are more varieties of road users with more electric cars, cyclists and pedestrians as well as cars, vans, motorbikes, buses and even horses to look out for. We as road users have a duty to take care of everyone on our roads and we should teach children about the different ways to travel.
What do children need to stay safe?
· Footpaths
· Cycle paths
· Safe places to cross
· Slow traffic
At Brake we’re passionate about getting kids walking and cycling more, and giving them and their families the confidence to feel safe travelling to and from school in healthy and active ways. Walking and cycling is good for both mental and physical health, and it’s a fun way to interact with one another too. But it is important to teach children how to do this safely.
Kids Walk resources teach children to:
- Hold hands with a grown up
- Stay away from the kerb
- Always wear a helmet when cycling or scooting
- Identify safe places to cross
- Learn the names and uses of pelican, zebra and other crossings
- Never cross the road between parked cars
- A red light means stop and wait
- Understand pollution dangers
And so much more! You can sign up here for free kids resources, colouring pages and activities.
Taking part in Kids Walk
As well as downloading the free resources, schools and communities are invited to take part in a walk to raise awareness with local road users of children’s right to walk safely. Children aged 4-11 can take part in a short, supervised walk, in crocodile formation, while holding hands, in or around the school’s neighbourhood. There are posters and banners to demonstrate to cars and other road users to take care around children on our roads.
Anyone is welcome to sign up to Brake’s Kids Walk here!
Thank you so much Brake for helping us educate our children about road safety! The Mini First Aid Team xxx
