Sidewalk Safety child walking to school with Dad

Rules of the Sidewalk: How to ensure that your little ones walk and bike safely

By Last Updated

Anyone whose community participates in National/International Walk to School Day knows what a wholesome sight that morning presents, with little and big kids, parents and entire families strolling down neighborhood sidewalks like a scene from an old-fashioned movie.

And it is a wonderful thing, until someone stops paying attention, and something bad happens. BayCare Kids Wellness and Safety Specialist Gina Baez has this sobering statistic to share: Every day in the United States, more than 40 children are hit by a car while they are walking.

Rules of the Sidewalk: How to ensure that your little ones walk and bike safely

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Whether your child is a newbie walking to school with an older sibling or a seasoned middle schooler who bikes daily, it’s good to remind them about road etiquette, legal requirements and safe habits.

Baez has these sidewalk safety tips to share to help keep your kids safe on the road:

Pedestrian Safety

  • Teach kids to look “left, right and left again” from a very young age. “I’m teaching my 4-year-old already,” Baez says.
  • When walking down a sidewalk, train your children to pause before driveways to make sure someone isn’t backing out or driving in.
  • When crossing a street, use signals and crosswalks; if a driver pauses at the crossing to let you walk, make eye contact with them to ensure they see you.
  • Don’t be a distracted pedestrian. Take out the earbuds, put down the phone and pay attention to the road.
  • Walk on the opposite side of the traffic so that you can see cars approach your side of the road.

Bike Riders

  • Wear a helmet if you are using any wheels, whether that be a bicycle, tricycle, skateboard, hoverboard or scooter. Good fit is essential. See the graphic to learn how to tell whether a helmet fits well.
  • Ride on the sidewalk, but unlike when you’re a pedestrian, ride with the flow of traffic instead of on the opposite side.
  • Follow the rules of the road and use hand signals when turning. (See graphic to learn the proper hand signals.)
  • Try and be clearly visible by wearing bright colors, using lights early in the morning or adding reflectors to a helmet.

Drivers and Parents

  • Share the road!
  • Be aware of school start and end times, especially as the days get shorter and the sun rises later.
  • Put down the cell phone, stay alert and set a good example by following all the rules.

 

Driving Safely on Halloween

 As neighborhoods fill with little ghouls and goblins, take extra care when leaving your home, particularly if you are driving after dark.

  • Be especially alert in residential neighborhoods and anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic on and near the road. Take extra time to actively look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
  • Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.​​​​​​​
  • Reduce distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and pedestrians.

*Presented by BayCare | iStock-2096265256 | Originally published in the October 2024 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.