Teenage pedestrians

Key stage 3 and 4 (ages 11 to 16)

This is the age where children start to make independent journeys. To make the school journey as safe as possible, discuss any dangers along the route and guide them in planning the route they travel.

Encourage them to use safer crossing facilities such as bridges, zebra crossings and traffic islands, if they are available.

Ensure that whenever your child is out on the road they are constantly aware of what is happening around them, and are not distracted by personal stereos, mobile phones or friends.

Almost 1 in 5 (18%) teenagers reported having been in a road incident or 'near miss' on their way home from school.

Teenagers admit to being distracted by talking to friends as they cross the road. 30% acknowledged that mobile phones preoccupied them and diverted their attention from watching out for traffic.

A shockingly high 65% reported having prevented a friend from having an incident, by pulling them back or calling out to them.

When teenagers are out and about with friends, road safety isn't at the front of their minds, but traffic is the biggest single killer of secondary school aged children.

It is important they learn to be more mindful of traffic and aware of the potentially disastrous consequences that can happen to those who fail to give the road their full attention.

Pedestrian casualties peak between the ages of 12 to 16, so it is vital that parents continue to talk to their children about road safety and educate them about how to stay safe on the roads.

You can help to reinforce road safety messages by:

• keeping on talking about the dangers of traffic
• pointing out people who are endangering themselves and why
• stressing the need to concentrate and be careful at all times - almost 1 in 10 teenagers who have been involved in crashes, say they were not looking or paying attention
• being aware of the dangers of distractions, using iPods, making mobile phone calls and texting while walking are big distractions
• stressing that they should never lose concentration and follow others into dangerous situations.