Staying Safe Outside

Road Safety - Younger Children

Learning about road safety starts long before children travel on their own. As they grow, they watch and copy how you travel on and near roads and they begin to make sense of what’s happening around them.

These early experiences help them build awareness, confidence and good judgement. By supporting them on everyday journeys, we help them develop the skills they need to become confident, resilient and independent travellers as they get older.

Download Tales of the Road - a highway code for young road users

Dive Deeper

Walking Safely Together

Walking is a great way to stay active and explore your community. Whether you're walking with children or they’re starting to travel independently, these practical tips help make every journey safer for you, your child, and others on the road.

  • Never assume drivers will stop at pedestrian crossings. Always wait until vehicles have come to a complete stop before crossing.
  • Walk facing oncoming traffic if there’s no pavement - this improves visibility and awareness.
  • Wear bright or reflective clothing, especially in poor light or bad weather, to help drivers see you.
  • Avoid walking close to the kerb with your back to traffic - stay further in where possible.
  • Watch out for motorcycles and bicycles, especially when they’re filtering between lanes of traffic.
  • Choose safe crossing points - avoid areas with parked cars, skips, or roadworks that block your view.
  • Keep looking both ways when crossing, even at traffic lights - some drivers may not stop.
  • Keep children on the inside of the pavement, furthest from the road, and hold their hand where possible.
  • Avoid distractions like texting or wearing headphones while walking - staying alert is key to staying safe.

Road Safety for Early Years Children (aged 3 to 6)

 

For younger children start building safety skills through playful learning and everyday moments:

  • Use picture books and songs such as the Safer Journeys Anthem above to introduce road safety.
  • Practise stopping at the kerb during play, even with scooters or balance bikes.
  • Use simple phrases like “Red means stop” or “Look both ways.”
  • Model safe behaviour to help children learn by example.
  • Reinforce safety through routine, like stopping at crossings or before crossing driveways
  • Hold hands near roads, especially when walking with a buggy or younger sibling.
  • Look for road signs, road designs and road markings, they all tell a story
  • Talk about scooter and balance bike safety, i.e. wearing helmets, and staying close to grown-ups.
  • Walk on the side furthest from the road.
  • Children can hold onto the side of a buggy where appropriate, especially when walking with siblings.

Road Safety for Older Children (aged 6 to 11)

Encourage your child to take small steps toward independence. Children see the world differently. They’re still learning how to judge speed, distance and danger. Here’s how you can help them understand risks in a way that builds confidence and awareness:

  • Talk about how fast vehicles move and why they’re hard to see or hear, including bikes and scooters, which can approach quickly and may be harder to notice
  • Point out electric vehicles - they’re quieter but can be seen and often have green number plate markings
  • Explore how distractions like noise or mobile phones affect awareness
  • Discuss road signs and what they mean
  • Explain that even quiet roads can be dangerous.
  • Use real-life examples to ask “What should we do to cross safely?”
  • Talk about weather and visibility, fog, rain, dusk and how to be seen

Safer School Journeys

 

Families, schools and communities all play a role in creating safer travel environments for children:
•    Join or start a “walking bus” group
•    Attend local road safety events or workshops
•    Share safe route tips with other parents
•    Encourage schools to promote Bikeability or pedestrian training

Those who can cause the most harm, like drivers, have the greatest responsibility to protect others, especially children walking, cycling, or scooting.

Whether walking, cycling, or driving to school, our behaviour teaches children how to stay safe. By modelling safe habits and showing respect to all road users, we help children build lifelong safety awareness.

Travelling to High School

When children reach the age of 10 or 11, they will often practise walking or cycling to school on their own as they prepare for going to secondary school, an important step towards more confident, responsible travel. Your support can make a big difference.

You can help to support this transition by:

  • Practising the journey with them and talking through what to do at crossings, junctions and bus stops
  • Talking about how to make safe choices even if friends or others take risks
  • Encouraging visibility such as wearing bright or reflective clothing and using bike lights especially in winter
  • Asking questions such as "What would you do if..." to build their confidence and problem solving skills
  • Reassuring them that it is okay to be nervous, to ask for help and to take their time when making decisions

Building Independence

Support your child’s growing confidence by:

  • Planning safe walking routes together
  • Talking about different road users - drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, horse riders and bus passengers and how they experience the road
  • Encourage your child to wear bright or reflective clothing.
  • Look at child-friendly resources like Tales of the Road or explore the Highway Code together.
  • Reinforce learning through real-life moments

Emotional Safety and Confidence Building

Help children feel emotionally safe as they learn:

  • Take small steps together - it’s normal to feel nervous. Practising routines like stopping at the kerb helps build confidence.
  • Celebrate progress - talk openly and praise small wins, like remembering to look both ways or waiting for cars to stop before crossing.
  • Reassure them - let your child know it’s always okay to ask for help or take their time. 

Helping Your Child to Learn About Road Safety

Who Can Help?

You can contact the Healthy Child Service team by calling Just One Number on 0300 300 0123 or texting Parentline on 07520 631 590. Our opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays).

The Norfolk County Council website offers many different options for road safety for children and young people, including Road Safety Education.

Go to the Norfolk Community Directory

Information, advice, services and activities across Norfolk

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Other Useful Pages

Car Seats

Emotional Development 2-5 Years

Preventing Accidents

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