Harrogate Borough Council
Menu
Service Provided by
Travelwise & Road Safety Manager
Transport Services
e-mail
Phone: 01423 556613
Fax: 01423 556510
Textphone: 01423 556543
Knapping Mount
West Grove Road
Harrogate
HG1 2AE
External Links
Road Safety - Parents
As a parent or carer you can help reduce the risks your child
faces on the roads by teaching road safety and making sure you use
the right size and correctly fitted child car seat every
trip.
Your child's best road safety teacher is you. Basic road
safety can be taught in the street. Your child will follow your
example, good or bad.
You can set a good example by following the green cross code
with your child.
Age 1 to 4
Children under 5 cannot cope with traffic. Choose somewhere
safe for them to play. When you go out, make sure your child walks
on the side away from the traffic, either holding your hand, on
reins or in a pushchair.
Explain what traffic is. Tell your child about stopping at the
kerb, looking and listening for traffic before crossing. Explain
the different between the road and the pavement.
Age 5 to 6
Whenever you take your child out walking, explain what you are
doing and why. Teach the main points of the green cross code:
STOP!
LOOK!
LISTEN!
Practise on quite roads. First show what to do, then let your
child lead you across. Then let them cross while you wait behind,
watching for traffic.
The risk of a road accident rises when children start school.
Show your child the safest routes to use. Explain why it is safer.
Set a good example by always using the crossing facilities.
Ages 7 to 9
Explain the rules of the Green Cross Code.
When you are sure that your child knows and understands them.
Let him or her use them while crossing quite roads where you have
practised.
Watch and test your child before letting them cross a quiet
road alone.
Young children do not usually have the cognitive ability to
judge how fast vehicles are travelling or how far away they are.
The age when they can use and understand the Green Cross Code is
different for each child but they will learn by example.
 |
 |
Ages 10 to 15
At this age children need to be given more independence. They
will probably have longer journeys to school and visit
friends.
Talk to you children about the dangers of traffic. Point out
people who are putting themselves or others in danger.
Practice the route to school and discuss any dangers
together.
Get your children to practice judging speed
and distance of approaching vehicles on a busy road and identifying
safe gaps.
Stress that they should never blindly follow others across the
road. They must always think for themselves.
Children between 12 and 15 are most at risk of being killed or
seriously injured. Many children think that by now they 'know it
all'. Make sure they take their road safety seriously.
The Green Cross Code
The advice given below on crossing the road is for all
pedestrians. Children should be taught the Code and should not be
allowed out alone until they can understand and use it properly.
The age when they can do this is different for each child. Many
children cannot judge how fast vehicles are going or how far away
they are. Children learn by example, so parents and carers should
always use the Code in full when out with their children. They are
responsible for deciding at what age children can use it safely by
themselves.
- First find a safe place
to cross. It is safer to cross using a subway, a
footbridge, an island, a zebra, pelican, toucan or puffin crossing,
or where there is a crossing point controlled by a police officer,
a school crossing patrol or a traffic warden. Where there is a
crossing nearby, use it. Otherwise choose a place where you can see
clearly in all directions. Try to avoid crossing between parked
cars (see Rule
14) and on blind bends and brows of hills. Move to a space
where drivers can see you clearly.
- Stop just before you get
to the kerb, where you can see if
anything is coming. Do not get too close to the traffic. If there
is no pavement, keep back from the edge of the road but make sure
you can still see approaching traffic.
- Look all around for
traffic and listen. Traffic could come from any
direction. Listen as well, because you can sometimes hear traffic
before you see it.
- If traffic is coming,
let it pass. Look all around again and listen. Do not
cross until there is a safe gap in the traffic and you are certain
that there is plenty of time. Remember, even if traffic is a long
way off, it may be approaching very quickly.
- When it is safe, go straight across the road - do not run. Keep looking and listening for traffic while you cross, in case there is any traffic you did not see, or in case other traffic appears suddenly.
 |
 |
 |