Walking Safely

Walking is great exercise and a good time to practice traffic safety especially to and from school. Helping children learn to distinguish the difference of OK to Cross (pedestrian walk signal) and Safe to Cross (appropriate signal AND they have looked 4 ways) is an important lesson in traffic safety awareness. Here are some tips to follow and share with your family:

• Know your route. Try a practice walk together.
• Whenever possible, walk in groups.
• Always tell someone where you are going, and if possible when you will return.
• Never hitchhike or take rides from people not arranged by your parents.
• Walk on sidewalks. If no sidewalks exist where you are walking, walk along the shoulder, in the direction of traffic.
• Stop at all curbs and intersections
• Pay close attention to driveways and alleyways.
• Cross at corners. Avoid mid-block crossings whenever possible.

Look 4 ways - always - before crossing. Teaching kids to look left, right, left again is good, but left, right, behind and forward is better. Remember this little rhyme: “Before I use my feet, to cross the street, here is something that can’t be beat... Stop, Look and Listen and then repeat”

Additional tips:

• Wait until traffic is clear in both directions before crossing.
• If vehicles are present, make eye contact with drivers.
• Cross in a straight line, never run. Continue looking for traffic as you cross.
• If you are walking in the evening be sure to wear bright clothing, reflectors or carry a light.
• If the walk signal starts blinking while you are in the crosswalk, continue walking safely, knowing the signal may expire soon. If the signal starts blinking while you are still on the curb, wait for the next phase.