Teaching children the basics of pedestrian safety is crucial for their well-being. Plenty of pedestrian accidents can be prevented if kids are properly educated about pedestrian safety early on.
According to auto accident lawyers, many pedestrians get involved in accidents due to distracted walking, playing on the road, and jaywalking, but drivers are also responsible. Speeding, distracted driving, disobeying traffic signals, driving under the influence, and other factors contribute to pedestrian accidents.
If you or a loved one is involved in a pedestrian accident, you should contact a pedestrian accident lawyer for assistance and support. Here are some key points to teach young ones about pedestrian safety in Portland to reduce their risk of being involved in a pedestrian accident.
Cross The Road at Designated Crosswalks
Children have to be taught to always use crosswalks when crossing the street. It’s important to emphasize that drivers do not expect pedestrians to randomly cross the road when there are no crosswalks around.
Children must also understand that drivers aren’t always attentive on the road and to never assume that the driver sees them. Children should always look left and right and left again to ensure no cars are approaching before crossing the road.
Obey Traffic Signals
Teaching children the importance of following traffic signals and signs can greatly aid in pedestrian accident prevention. Explain the meaning of red lights, green lights, and pedestrian crossing signals to them.
Emphasize the importance of waiting for the signal to change before crossing the street. Tell them they should never cross the street if they hear emergency vehicles such as ambulances or police cars approaching since they are allowed to run red lights.
Stay Visible
It’s important to teach children to make themselves visible to drivers. Encourage them to wear bright or reflective clothing, especially during low-light conditions. Remind them to avoid using headphones or electronic devices that can distract them from their surroundings.
A good habit to avoid distracted walking is teaching children to put down their phones and check the road before crossing it. Ideally, they should return to their phones only once they have reached the other side of the road.
Look Out for Cars
Teaching kids to always be aware of cars and other vehicles is crucial in accident prevention. Instruct them to make eye contact with drivers before crossing to ensure that they are seen. Remind them to watch for turning vehicles, as drivers may not always notice pedestrians while making turns.
Walk, Don’t Run
It’s essential to teach children to walk, not run, when crossing the street. Running can make it difficult for drivers to predict their movements and react in time. Often, anxiety plays a role in reckless road crossing. Because of this, it is important to emphasize the importance of staying calm and focused while crossing the road.
Teach children that they will get to their destination in time and that running across the road will not make a difference. However, taking their time to check the road and crossing it safely will.
Sidewalk Safety
Children should be instructed on how to use sidewalks whenever they are available. They should walk facing traffic if there are no sidewalks, but remind them to be cautious and stay as far away from vehicles as possible and not get distracted by their phones or other gadgets while doing so.
Avoid Distractions and Be a Role Model
Teach children to avoid distractions such as electronic devices or playing games while walking. Explain that being attentive and aware of their surroundings is essential to their safety. You can also show them the harmful effects caused by walking and staring at a phone. This might incentivize them to be more aware of their surroundings and decrease phone usage while walking.
Lastly, you can set a good example by following pedestrian safety rules yourself. Children are more likely to adopt safe behaviors if they see adults practicing them consistently.
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