Fall means the start of school and shorter days. This is a good time to review pedestrian safety rules with children. Young children are especially vulnerable to traffic related accidents because:

	Children are shorter than most adults so it can be difficult for drivers to see them, especially around or between parked or moving cars, buses, and tall bushes.
	Children’s peripheral vision is narrower than an adult’s so they don’t see a car approaching from the right or left as quickly as an adult.
	Children have difficulty judging a car’s speed and distance and think that a car can stop instantly. They think that if they can see the driver the driver can see them.

Crossing the street safely

The safest way for children under 10 to cross a street is with an adult.  To be seen by drivers, children should wear brightly colored clothing in the daytime and reflective clothing or materials at twilight or after dark.

It also important for children to learn basic traffic safety rules at an early age:

	Cross at the corner or at a crosswalk - Never cross or enter the street from between parked cars or buses.
	Stop before you cross and look both ways - Watch for turning cars from both the left and the right. If you see a car coming wait until it goes by, then look to the left and right again.
	Always walk when crossing the street - Don't run across the street or through parking lots.
	Walk on the sidewalk if there is one - If you have to walk on the road, walk on the left side facing oncoming traffic so you can see cars coming.
	Don't chase or follow balls or other toys into the street.
	At intersections with traffic lights and pedestrian signals wait until you see WALK and follow the basic crossing rules. A flashing DON'T WALK means you should not start to cross the street. If you have started to cross the street when the don't walk starts to flash, continue to walk. The walk signal and green light indicate it is your turn to cross but they do not mean it is safe to cross. Remember to look both ways before crossing!

Classroom activities

• Set up a “pedestrian safety course”. Let children make a miniature neighborhood with shoe box houses or stores, parked cars, buses and crossings with stop signs, traffic lights, etc. and practice “pedestrian safety.”
• Set up a true/false discussion: “You can always cross at a corner even if there is no crosswalk,” “It is all right to run across the street if no cars are coming,” etc.
• Take a walk around the neighborhood looking for safe/unsafe places to cross.

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Adapted from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and CCHP materials, 06/06.