Pedestrian Safety Tips
Safe Kids Charlotte Mecklenburg recommends that all pedestrians abide by all NC traffic laws and local ordinances.
- Obey all traffic laws. Teach your child the rules of the road and obey all traffic laws. Walk on the sidewalk If there is no sidewalk and you have to walk in the road, always walk FACING traffic, so you can see any car that might go out of control; stop at all stop signs and stop lights; and look both ways before entering a street.
- Watch for traffic at driveways and around parked cars. Teach children to be extra careful around driveways and parked cars.
- Walk only in daylight. Use retro-reflective material at all times, on clothing, bikes, scooters, etc. Brightly colored clothing makes it easier for drivers to see you during the daytime. If you have to walk at night, you need to wear special reflective material on your shoes, cap or jacket to reflect the headlights of cars coming towards you.
- Supervise your children. Activities should be restricted to sidewalks and paths until a child is age 10 and able to show how well they observe rules of the road. Supervision is essential until the skills and safety judgment levels are reached by the child.
- Tips for Crossing the Street.
- Cross only at corners or marked crosswalks.
- Stop at the curb, or the edge of the road.
- Stop and look left, then right, then left again, before you step into the street.
- If you see a car, wait until it goes by. Then look left, right and left again until no cars are coming.
- If a car is parked where you are crossing, make sure there is no driver in the car. Then go to the edge of the car and look left-right-left until no cars are coming. Keep looking for cars while you are crossing, and remember, walk. Don’t run.
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