Child pedestrian safety

When children are at primary school, they are normally walked to school by their parents who ensure they cross the road safely by telling them where and when it is safe to cross. This does not prepare children for the time when they start to walk to school without an adult.

The Footsteps programme is simple for parents to use as it can be carried out in normal everyday situations such as walking to school or to the local shops. Rather than telling children what to do, parents are encouraged to ask lots of open questions to make the children think about the decisions they are making. Making these decisions safely while in the company of a supporting adult will mean they will be better prepared for dealing with roads and traffic once they begin going out on their own. Please find below a child pedestrian safety guide for parents produced by Footsteps in this regard.