The School Run: Road Safety Basics

With darker afternoons on the way, a few habits on the walk, bus and cycle to school make a real difference.

Children learn road safety by watching the adults around them. Hold younger children's hands, keep them on the inside of the pavement, and use proper crossings such as zebra and puffin crossings rather than crossing between parked cars.

The Green Cross Code

Find a safe place to cross, stop before the kerb, look and listen for traffic, wait until it's clear, then cross straight over without running, and keep looking and listening as you go. Children under about 10 can't reliably judge the speed and distance of traffic, so they should be able to show you the Green Cross Code every time before travelling on their own.

Buses, bikes and parking

After getting off a bus, children should wait until it has moved off before crossing, never crossing directly in front of or behind it. Children under 10 shouldn't cycle alone on roads, and Bikeability Level 2 training is recommended before cycling to school. If you drive, park safely and legally away from the school gate; some areas run "School Streets" schemes that close the road outside schools at drop-off times.

Sources

• Travelling to school safely (Plymouth City Council)
• Walking to school (Derbyshire County Council)
• THINK! road safety (Department for Transport)

This post is general information. Your school's own plan comes first, so ask the school office for its procedures.