Child Safety Week – June 2023

Child Safety Week is the Child Accident Prevention Trust’s annual community education campaign, acting as a catalyst for thousands of safety conversations and activities UK-wide. The Child Accident Prevention Trust is the only UK charity to focus on preventing death and serious injury to children from avoidable accidents. Their vision is a safer world for all our children.

Sussex Safer Roads Partnership want all children to have the freedom to grow and learn, safe from serious harm. This year Child Safety Week runs from Monday 5 to Sunday 11 June, with this year’s theme is ‘Safety made Simple’. SSRP will be out supporting local children in developing their knowledge on road safety with practical advice and resources.

Here are some simple road safety tips to teach your child to stay safe:

Pedestrians – younger children

• Get young children into the habit of holding your hand or use walking reins
• Ask questions while you’re out to help them understand simple ideas like ‘fast’ and ‘slow’
• You can start teaching the Green Cross Code from age five, encouraging children to stop, look, listen and think
• But they won’t always remember safety rules, especially if they’re excited or spot a friend across the road
• Children will copy what you do, so try to avoid stepping into the road without checking for traffic first. If you can do the right thing, it will help them get into good habits.

Pedestrians – older children

• Children find it difficult judging the speed and distance of traffic until they’re at least eight. Accidents peak around 12, as children start making independent journeys
• Children learn by doing and practising. If they’re moving to a new school, help them practise the route over the holidays. Where are the safe places to cross? What should they do if they see their bus and they’re on the other side of the road?
• They can be mesmerised by their mobiles, so remind them not to talk or text on their phones or listen to music while crossing the road.

In the car

• Make sure your car seat is the right one for your child’s height and weight and for your car – not all seats fit all cars

Cycling

• Get your child into the habit of wearing their helmet. If you cycle as a family, remember to wear yours too
• Look out for cycle training. Many schools offer courses to help children gain practical skills.

Driving – speed is everything when it comes to a child’s chances of survival. They’re 3.5 times more likely to die if hit by a car doing between 30-40 mph.

• Keep an eye on your speed
• Keep your phone in the glove compartment so it can’t distract you.

Useful Links

Child Safety Week 2023:  https://capt.org.uk/child-safety-week/

Free downloadable resources: https://capt.org.uk/resource-centre/

Parent’s pack: https://capt.org.uk/resources/parents-pack/