11 Dec Getting Street Wise: Helping Children Stay Safe Around Traffic
“Even confident children misjudge speed. Walking with an adult is still the safest option.”
— Kidsafe Australia
A Safer Summer for Everyone
With more children outdoors over summer, pedestrian safety requires shared responsibility: parents providing supervision, communities designing safer streets, drivers slowing down, and manufacturers continuing to improve vehicle safety.
Children are the most vulnerable people on our roads. With a few conscious steps — and an awareness of modern road risks — families can help ensure their holiday adventures stay safe.
Building Safer Streets for Kids
Communities also play a role. Traffic-calming measures such as raised crossings, lower speed limits, narrower streets and reduced parking near corners create safer spaces for children. Research consistently shows that these environmental changes are highly cost-effective and reduce serious injuries.
Parents can advocate for improvements around schools, parks and busy community areas — especially in the lead-up to school holidays.
7 Summer Safety Tips for Parents
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- Walk with your child and practise together
Talk aloud about how you make decisions:
“We’re waiting because that car is speeding up.”
This builds real-world skills far better than memorising the old “stop, look, listen, think”.
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- Hold hands or stay physically close near traffic
Children under 10 should cross with an adult — not an older sibling.
• More: Transport for NSW
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- Avoid crossing between parked cars
Teach children to move to a clear, visible spot where drivers can see them.
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- Slow vehicles right down around the home
Holiday periods mean more kids playing outdoors. Driveway accidents are preventable with:
- visual checks
- mirrored blind-spot checks
- walking behind the vehicle before getting in
• More: Kidsafe
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- Choose safer vehicles
When buying a family car, look for:
- Five-star ANCAP rating
- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian and cyclist detection
• More: ANCAP
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- Model calm, predictable behaviour
Children copy adults. Crossing illegally, running across roads or using your phone while walking teaches the wrong lessons.
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- Reduce phone use near roads
For both adults and children. Even brief distraction increases danger.
• More: Australian Road Safety Assoc.
