Road Safety for Children

Teaching children road safety in an age-appropriate way is so important for their development. This helps shape their attitude to road safety and how they behave as they grow and progress through the various stages of being a road user. 

The RSA's Safe Cross Code

One – look for a safe place
Two – don’t hurry stop and wait
Three – look all around and listen before you cross the road
Four – let all the traffic pass you
Five – then walking straight across you
Six – Keep watching, that's the Safe Cross Code

When there's a school warden at a crossing, children should wait on the footpath until the warden instructs them to cross the road. When crossing, children should still follow the Safe Cross Code. 

Parents and guardians accompanying children to school should set a good example by following the school warden's instructions and discussing the Safe Cross Code with children. 

Walking to School

Research shows that children under 12 should not cross roads alone as they cannot decide how far away a car is or how fast it is going. They should be taken to school by a responsible adult. When taking your child to school, remember:

  • Choose a safe route to schools and keep hold of your child's hand at all times. 
  • If there is no footpath, you must walk as near as possible to the right-hand side of the road (facing oncoming traffic). 
  • Don't allow children to cross the road between parked cars. This is very dangerous as a driver will not be able to see your child.
  • Use the Safe Cross Code and explain what you are doing and why, for example using zebra crossings because it is a safer place to cross.
  • After some weeks assess your child's understanding by asking them to bring you across the road.

The best person to teach your child to cross the road safely is you. But remember, a child will do as you do, not as you say. So set the good example yourself!

For more information on this, read the Going to School: A parents guide to getting children to school safely from the RSA. 

Further information

Visit the RSA.ie for further information on road safety for primary school children, secondary school children and more.