Pedestrian safety

Safe routes to school (pedestrian safety in youth)

If your child is travelling to school on their own:

• Make a set route with your child, which includes a crossing guard. Ensure that your child always follows this same route.
• Ensure that the route passes safe places where your child can ask for help such as: restaurants, friend’s houses or stores.
• Find a friend or a neighbor who will walk with your child.
• Know where your child is at all times. Make sure your child lets you know when he/she is going to be late or going somewhere else.
• Establish a plan in case you are late to meet your child. Your child should have another person he/she can contact if needed.
• Use a code word with your child.
• Teach your to cross streets at intersections, to look both ways before crossing, and to observe lights and traffic signals.
• Your child should never talk to strangers even if they ask for help or seem nice.
• Your child should never approach or get into a stranger’s car.
• If your child senses danger, he/she should stay calm and get away as quickly as possible.
• If your child has to run, tell him/her to drop his/her school bag or anything else he/she is carrying to run faster.
• If your child encounters someone who makes him/her feel uneasy, he/she should go to one of the closest safe places.
• If a stranger gets too close to your child or tries to grab him/her, tell your child to scream as loud as he/she can, “Help – I don’t know this person!”
• If someone tries to grab hold of your child, tell him/her to fight them off by kicking and hitting.
• If something out of the ordinary happens, your child should let you and his teachers know right away.