Many parents are scared to let their children play out on the streets. Stories about “stranger danger” have helped build this fear in parents, but it’s important to remember that child abduction is rare, especially by strangers.
A far more pertinent reason to worry about your children being out alone is the danger posed by drivers. Children are very small in relation to cars, so they have a high chance of injury or death if the two collide. Teaching your child the following can help them stay safe.
Cross where and when drivers expect them to cross
A child who crosses in the middle of a street is at greater danger than one who crosses at a marked crossing point. Equally, a child who crosses when a pedestrian crossing light is on green is more likely to get safely to the other side than one who skips across when that same light is on red. Crossing at a place or time that will be unexpected to drivers increases the risk.
Assume drivers have not seen them
It can sometimes be hard for drivers to see children because they can get hidden by other vehicles. Many modern cars have bulky roof support pillars that create large blind spots and high hoods that obscure the driver’s front view. Many drivers are not even looking either, as they are distracted. Teaching a child to make eye contact with drivers allows them to better determine whether a driver has seen them and if it is safe to cross.
All this said, a collision could still occur if the driver is not exercising appropriate caution. Learning how to claim compensation will be essential in such a situation.