14/11/2025

Road Safety Week: Practical Tips for Helping Children Stay Safe on the Roads

Road Safety Week (16-22 November) is a great reminder for all of us, especially parents, about the small habits that can make a big difference in keeping our children safe. Whether your child is a curious toddler, a newly independent school-goer, or a young teen eager to gain independence, each stage comes with its own road-safety challenges.

We've got some age-appropriate tips to help your family build confidence and stay safe when out and about.

Early Years (Ages 2–5): Building the Basics

At this age, little ones are still developing their awareness of danger, so supervision is everything. But it’s also the perfect time to start planting the seeds of safe road behaviour.

Tips for toddlers and preschoolers

• 👣 Hold hands (always): Make it a non-negotiable rule that they must hold your hand (or hold onto the buggy) anytime you’re near a road
• 👀 Teach “Stop, Look, Listen, Think.”: Even though they’re too young to do this independently, repeating the mantra helps it sink in over time
• 🚸 Use crossings every time: Introduce pedestrian crossings early so they become the norm. Point out what the green man means and wait together until it appears
• 🧥 Bright and bold clothing: High-vis vests aren’t just for school trips! Bright coats or reflective stickers on backpacks help little ones stay visible during darker winter days

Primary Age (Ages 6–9): Growing Awareness and Independence

As children start school, they become more observant, but can still be impulsive. This age is all about practising good habits together.

Tips for early primary school children

• 🛑 Reinforce crossing skills: Start letting them lead the crossing process (“You tell me when it’s safe”), but always with you watching closely
• 🗺️ Walk regular routes together: If they’ll eventually walk to school alone or with friends, practise the route repeatedly: spotting hidden driveways, judging safe places to cross, and identifying potential risks
• 🚲 Cycle smart: If they’re cycling, make sure their bike fits properly, the brakes work, and the helmet is worn correctly, flat on the head, not slipping backwards
• 📱 No distractions: Even children this young can be glued to gadgets. Set rules early: no headphones or screens when near roads

Upper Primary (Ages 10–12): Preparing for Independence

This is the age when children might start walking or cycling to school without you. They may seem confident, but their ability to judge speed and distance is still developing.

Tips for tweens

• 🧭 Plan safe routes: Help them choose the safest, not the fastest, route, even if that means more crossings or slightly longer paths
• 👥 Encourage walking with friends: There’s safety in numbers, and children are more visible when in a group
• 🏞️ Remind about country roads: If you live or holiday in rural areas, teach them to walk facing oncoming traffic and stay well off the carriageway if pavements are limited
• 🌧️ Weather awareness: Rain, fog, and darker afternoons make UK roads trickier. Make sure they know they’re harder for drivers to spot and should take extra care

Young Teens (Ages 13–15): Managing Risk and Peer Influence

With newfound freedom comes more complex challenges: peer pressure, phones, headphones, bikes, buses, e-scooters, and shortcuts.

Tips for young teens

• 📵 Tech awareness: This is the biggest risk. Talk openly about looking up from their phone near roads and removing headphones when crossing
• 🚴 Bike confidence and road rules: If they’re cycling regularly, consider Bikeability training if they haven’t done it already. Make sure their helmet is non-negotiable
• 🛴 E-scooters: know the law: Privately owned e-scooters aren’t legal to ride on UK public roads or pavements. Teens often don’t know this, so have a clear conversation about it
• 🚌 Safe behaviour on buses: Teens should know not to cross directly in front of or behind a bus. Encourage them to wait until it’s gone so they can see (and be seen)
• 💬 Keep the conversation going: Teens might roll their eyes, but regular reminders help. Frame it around independence and responsibility, not rules for the sake of rules

Final Thoughts

Road safety isn’t a one-off lesson, it’s an ongoing conversation that grows with your child. Road Safety Week is the perfect moment to refresh the basics, introduce new skills, and help your child become a confident, cautious, and capable road user.