Road safety for tweens: the parents' guide

Independent travel to and from school can be the first real marker of growing up for many children but this year, school disruption means many children have missed their usual road safety teaching at primary school before taking their first steps towards solo travel to secondary school.

Feel confident in helping your child make the transition safely and happily with road safety tips for tweens from the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT).

But seeing your child becoming more responsible for themselves and feeling their first taste of freedom can be rewarding and needn’t be fraught with anxiety.

Follow CAPT's step-by-step guide to preparing your child to stay safe on the road when they are travelling alone or with friends.

Tween road safety action plan step 1: Be positive and plan

The first thing to consider is the cue your child will take from you. If you approach their school journey and safety with a sense of positivity, it will set the tone for your discussions and should allow for a more open dialogue. 

To really engage your tween, focus less on instructing them in the rules of the road and more on listening and asking questions, to encourage them to think for themselves – after all, that’s what they will need to do when travelling alone.
 

Tween road safety action plan step 2: Put your child in the driver’s seat

Get them to sit down and plan their route to school. Whether walking or using school or public transport, they can map out what route to take and then talk you through it. They can think about which friends they might travel with too.

You can help build their confidence (and yours in them!) by practising the route together or starting with easier routes and building up to the school route. 
 

Tween road safety action plan step 3: Ask questions, avoid instructions

Help your child think through risk and consequences on the road. 

For example, if they walk and kick their ball rather than holding on to it, what might happen to a. their ball or b. them if they run out to get it?

We are all mesmerised by our mobiles, but on the road they are a major hazard.

Get them to say the alphabet backwards while you ask them questions. It’s like using your mobile while trying to cross the road – our brains can’t do both! 

It's incredibly easy to get distracted by phones, but being alert to traffic is vital and life-saving. Discuss why putting their phone in their bag and taking their earphones out when crossing the road are so important: talking, texting or listening to music while crossing the road could make the difference between a safe journey and an accident. 

Tween road safety action plan step 4: Role-play road safety scenarios

You can also present your child with different scenarios along their route. 

Help them practise what to say to their friends to tackle peer pressure, discuss safe crossing places and discuss what to do if they see the bus coming and they’re struggling to cross a busy road – reassure them that being late is better than being hurt. Put the emphasis on making smart decisions.

Talk through what to do in an emergency, what numbers to call and how they can keep in touch with you.

Equip your child with simple reminders for when they are unsure. If they ask themselves, ‘Would I do this with Mum or Dad here?’ and the answer is ‘no’, that’s their answer!