Children Are Not Young Adults

PARENTS often believe that their children know how to deal with traffic while they are still small. Parents must not see young children as small adults. Children just don’t have the skills to handle the dangers in a traffic environment until they are at least 10 years old.

Boys are more likely to be injured or killed. Some parents also tend to regard bicycles as toys. Bicycles are actually vehicles and children should not be allowed to ride them on roads until they fully understand road traffic rules and know how to follow them.

Here are some things that parents should know about children:

• Young children cannot judge speed and they think that vehicles can stop instantly
• They often act before thinking and may not do what parents or drivers expect
• They assume that if they see the driver, the driver can see them
• They are shorter than adults and can't see over cars, shrubs and other objects. This is why they should not stand behind parked vehicles before crossing a road
• They tend to run on to the street without first looking out for traffic. Many children aged between five and nine are often hurt or killed by vehicles while playing near their homes

As a parent, you also need to ensure that your children always wear helmets when riding their bicycles. The most serious injuries children get while riding bicycles are head and brain injuries. Head injuries can cause death or permanent disability. In fact, you should start helmet use early ­ when your children start riding a tricycle or play vehicle. As far as possible find places away from streets, driveways and parking areas where your children can ride their bikes. Fenced parks and playgrounds may be ideal.

As your children grow, place limits on where they can go and where they can play. Don’t expect them to have a sound sense of road safety until they are at least 10 years old. And also set examples yourself by obeying robot signals and behaving responsibly as a driver. You will be surprised just how much your behaviour impacts on shaping your children’s lives. And there is no better teacher than you in training your child, for instance, on how to cross a street safely.

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