How safe are your children on the road?

The journey to school is often a hectic experience and it’s also a time when children are very vulnerable. Sadly last year 3,905 children were killed or seriously injured on our roads. The good news is that overall the number of child road casualties is going down, but whether your child is walking, cycling or travelling to school by car, they need to know how to stay safe. To take away a bit of the stress, we’ve put together a quick quiz for you to work out how you teach your child to stay safe on the roads. You’ll find some helpful suggestions and advice at the end.

Expert Opinion

Professor Jimmie Thomson, child psychologist from the University of Strathclyde:

“There is no single ‘right’ way to be a parent. But there are lots of different ways you can talk to your children about road safety that will help keep them safe.”

“A good tip is to be specific in your advice and to encourage your children to help you make road decisions. So when you’re out together, try asking them to choose a safe place to cross the road or get them to work out what to do if they can’t see cars coming properly. This way, they’ll be much more likely to remember what to do next time they’re in a similar situation and you’re not there to help them.”