Pedestrian Safety

Whether your kids are walking to school, the park, or a friend’s house, here are a few simple tips to ensure they get there safely.

The Hard Facts

Unintentional pedestrian injuries are the fifth leading cause of injury-related death in the United States for children ages 5 to 19. Teenagers are now at the most significant risk. Teens have a death rate twice that of younger children and account for half of all child pedestrian deaths.

Top Tips

• Talk to your kids about how to be safe while walking. It’s always best to walk on sidewalks or paths and cross at street corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
• Teach children at an early age to put down their devices and then look left, right, and left again when crossing the street.
• Children under ten should cross the street with an adult. Every child is different, but developmentally, it can be challenging for kids to judge the speed and distance of cars until age 10.
• Remind kids to make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street and watch out for cars turning or backing up.
• When driving, be especially alert in residential neighborhoods and school zones, and look out for bikers, walkers, or runners who may be distracted or may step into the street unexpectedly.