There is no nightmare worse than seeing one’s own child injured. When it comes to pedestrian accidents, those injuries can all too easily become fatal. Keep reading to learn the seven rules that can help you keep your child safer. If you or they have been involved in a pedestrian accident, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
- Know the Rules Yourself
- Stay on Sidewalks
- Look Both Ways Before Crossing the Street – and Then Some
- Crosswalks Are a Must
- Avoid Being Distracted
- Practice with Your Kids
- Get Their Friends Involved
The first and most important thing is to make sure that you understand pedestrian rules. Not only do you need to know them so that you can teach them to your child, but you need to model the rules too. You can only do this if you understand them entirely.
It is smart to always be on the sidewalk if a sidewalk is available. If the street does not have sidewalk, try to find one that does. If your child must walk on a street without a sidewalk, they should walk as far to the left as they can and face oncoming traffic.
It’s almost a cliché at this point to tell your kids to look both ways before crossing the street but it’s actually not enough. They should look left, then right, then left again.
Use a crosswalk to cross the street – always. Do not dart out into the street or walk between cars. Drivers expect to see pedestrians at crosswalks and are much more likely to notice them than a pedestrian in the middle of the street.
Everyone these days spends a lot of time looking at their phones – and that includes kids. Teach them that they should not use their device while they are walking. They should not have music on as it results in a higher risk for accident.
As an adult, the rules you follow to cross the street seem like common sense but that’s only because you’ve been following them for so long. For your kids, they are brand new and they may be harder to remember. That’s why it’s good to take a daily walk with your kids and remind them of the rules as you complete them.
If your child’s friends don’t follow the rules then your child may be more likely not to follow the rules. The best way to protect against this is to ensure that their friends know the rules by teaching them too. Get everyone together and create a fun tutorial on how to walk safely.
Remember that if you or a loved one is injured in a pedestrian accident, you can contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.
