Child Safety: Streets and Motor Vehicles

Topic Overview

It takes a lot of repetition to teach young children about the dangers of streets, cars, and other vehicles. Motor vehicles can cause severe injury and death, so it is very important that you are not lax about enforcing these rules.

Help prevent an accident or injury by following these suggestions:

• Don't allow your child to play near the garage or driveway or around cars.
• Make a habit of checking under and behind your car before driving.
• Closely supervise children while they are playing or riding tricycles or bikes near the street. If possible, keep all activities in areas that are protected from the street and cars.
• Don't let a child younger than age 10 play near or cross the street alone.
• Show your child what behavior you expect, such as crossing streets appropriately at lights and crosswalks.
• Reinforce looking left, right, and left again before crossing the street.
• Teach your child to walk facing traffic on the far left-hand side of the street, unless there is a sidewalk.
• Don't let children younger than age 16 ride on all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).