Road Safety Tips for Younger Children

Know Your Safety Signals

Teach children the meanings of basic traffic signals, such as red for stop, green for go, and yellow for caution. Gradually introduce other signals, like pedestrian crossing lights to help them understand when it’s safe to cross. They should also have some knowledge of common traffic signs, such as:

• Stop
• Stop and Give Way
• Pedestrians Prohibited
• Uneven Road
• No Parking, No Standing, and No Stopping
• Horn Prohibited
• Left Turn Signal
• No U-Turn
• School Ahead
• Speed Limit
• Roundabout
• Curve
• No Standing
• Narrow Bridge
• Dip

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Be Careful While Crossing Roads

Always encourage children to use crosswalks when available. If there’s no crosswalk, remind them to look both ways, wait for vehicles to pass, and avoid crossing between parked cars.

Always Pay Attention and Listen to Warnings

Instruct children to stay alert and listen for sounds like horns or sirens while walking near roads. Teach them to recognize emergency vehicle sounds and give way to ambulances or fire trucks.

Never Run on Busy Roads

Remind children to walk calmly and avoid running near roads, even on quiet streets. Running can lead to accidents, especially if they suddenly enter the road without checking for traffic.

Always Use Sidewalks

Encourage children to walk on sidewalks or footpaths whenever possible. If there’s no sidewalk, they should walk facing oncoming traffic to stay visible to drivers.

Be Seen at Night

Advise children to wear bright or reflective clothing when walking in low-light conditions. This helps drivers spot them easily, reducing the risk of accidents.

Practice Safety in Moving Vehicles

Teach children to always wear seat belts and avoid sticking their hands or heads out of car windows. Remind them to hold onto handrails in buses to stay steady during sudden stops.

Ride Bicycles Carefully

Ensure that children wear bike helmets to guard against head injuries and check their bikes for working brakes and lights before riding. Encourage them to use bicycle lanes and stay alert for vehicles around them.

Be Safe When Getting In and Out of Vehicles

Instruct children to wait for vehicles to stop completely before boarding or exiting. They should always step onto the curb side to avoid oncoming traffic.

Never Multitask While Walking on Roads

Remind children to stay focused and avoid distractions like phones or books while walking. Being alert helps them notice potential dangers and follow road safety rules.

Additional Reading for Safe Driving

• What You Can Do to Prevent Impaired Driving
• Traffic Signs
• Ending Distracted Driving Is Everyone’s Responsibility
• Kentucky Personal Injury Attorneys
• Prevention of Drinking and Driving
• Car Accident Lawyers in Tennessee
• Emergency Car Kit: Ten Items You Should Have

Andrew Coleman

PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY, PARTNER

Andrew graduated from law school in 2017, completed and passed the Kentucky Bar Examination, and then launched his career as a lawyer working at Hughes & Coleman. In his years as an attorney, he has witnessed the underhanded tactics insurance companies use to coerce injured victims into taking a lower settlement than they deserve. Far too often, the initial insurance offer barely accounts for the personal loss that a client currently feels, and it certainly doesn’t project or account for the additional loss they will have to manage for the remainder of their life.

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