Being road smart doesn't necessarily come naturally. You need to teach your children how to be safe pedestrians and how to be safe passengers whether travelling in a car, bus or train. It's not just about telling them what to do – children learn from what adults do, so you need to model safe behaviour.
Schools can also teach about road safety. You can browse a variety of resources for all school ages on education.nzta.govt.nz(external link)
An important part of teaching your children road safety is to model safe behaviour yourself and talk to your child about what you are doing and why.
When you're walking and crossing the road follow these tips on how to stay safe when walking.
You can also find more information in our guide: Hike it, bike it, scoot it, skate it
Working alongside initiatives such as walking school buses and school travel plans, the Feet First teacher resources project includes national curriculum content provided online for teachers covering:
Feet First teacher resources on our Education Portal(external link)
Teach your children good habits by biking with them.
Approved cycle helmets
Cycling confidence and skills training(external link)
BikeReady is New Zealand's national cycling education system, delivered through schools by people in your area.
www.bikeready.govt.nz(external link)
Check these tips on teaching your children how to board, travel on and leave buses safely.
And follow this advice when picking up or dropping off children at the bus stop.
In the car, it's important for children to have the appropriate child restraint that is fastened correctly in the vehicle. Make sure:
Learn about other vehicle safety features that can protect you and your passengers in a crash:
Features that protect you
Using child restraints in New Zealand
Seat belts
Remember, your children need to be road smart around your home too. They should only play outdoors in areas that are well fenced and away from traffic, including driveways.
Talk to your child about what to do if a ball, toy, pet or other item goes on to the road while they are playing: