Home > Safety Info >

Child Pedestrians

pedestrian.jpgChildren should be taught the basic rules for pedestrian safety:

  • Always cross at an intersection or crosswalk when one is available. Before crossing a street, stop at the curb, edge of the road, or corner before proceeding. Look left, right, and left again, and if it's clear, begin to cross, looking over your shoulder for oncoming vehicles. Continue to watch for traffic when crossing 
  • Walk facing traffic when there are no sidewalks so you can see what's coming If you must walk through parked traffic, stop and look carefully before stepping out from between vehicles. Don't run between parked cars and buses. Don't run across the street or through a parking lot 
  • Be especially careful when walking after dark. Placing retro-reflective stickers on shoes and bookbags, or slipping on a retro-reflective wrist band, is easy to do and it greatly increases your chances of being seen 
  • At intersections with traffic lights and pedestrian signals, it's important to follow the signal carefully. Wait until you see the WALK signal, following again the basic rules for crossing 
  • A flashing DON'T WALK signal indicates you should not start to cross the street. However, if you have already started crossing when it begins flashing, continue walking. The timing mechanism in the signal device allows you time to cross before it changes to a steady DON'T WALK signal 
  • If you see a steady DON'T WALK signal, don't begin to cross the street! Wait for the next WALK signal 
  • The WALK signal and the green traffic light indicate that it's your turn to cross the street, but they do not mean it is SAFE to cross. The WALK signal and the GREEN light mean LOOK, and then go if no traffic is coming your way 
  • Always watch for turning cars when crossing the street