Child Street Safety: Cross Smarter!
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Several studies show that the number of children hit by cars while crossing streets, either walking or bicycling, can be markedly decreased. The dangers are real. In one study of children’s ability to judge the time they have to walk across a street safely based on the distance and travel speed of cars, six percent of children were “struck” by cars. Zeroing in by age, researchers found that 75% of five-year-olds would have been struck based on their judgment alone, and about half of nine-year-olds were “struck” at least once when tested several times.
Bicycling, while a great way to get around and super exercise, is more dangerous. Researchers emphasize that they hope parents will help children ride safely rather than eliminate bicycling. Maintaining healthy weight is one reason they cite, noting that in 1964, when 50 percent of children rode bikes to school, only 12 percent of children were obese. In 2004, with only three percent of kids riding bikes to school, the obesity rate has risen to a startling 45 percent of kids.
So, how can parents help children learn to cross streets more safely? By actively and thoroughly teaching them the best ways to cross, both walking and on bicycles.
Two of the main tips are super simple. One, after parents have led children across streets for a while, they should then move back and follow them. This is a wonderful way for children to learn to make the best judgments while a parent is still right there to head off crossing if it’s not safe. Another is to mandate that children walk their bikes across streets, because their walking judgment is better than their riding perceptions.
One of the most crucial facts about crossing streets on bikes is that even children who make the same “safe to cross” judgment as adults often end up crossing more slowly because they don’t adjust their bikes in advance, like having the pedals in position to go immediately after they’ve decided it’s safe. So another valuable lesson is to teach kids to get everything ready to go right after they stop their bike to cross a street.
Children also tend to watch the nearest car when they are crossing the street, while adults focus on heading straight across. Watching the car means kids don’t steer as straight, so it takes them some extra seconds that could be critical.
Conducted by the University of Iowa Department of Psychology, these studies found that all riders, both adults and children, take more risks the longer they wait for a safe gap in cars. If it looks like the ideal gap will never come, they decide to take the “next best” thing. While experienced riders who often cross busy streets may learn to cross streets faster, no studies have explored that possibility, according to Jody Plumert, who conducted the most recent research.
Her last tip: children need supervised teaching for weeks or months, not just a week or two. And remember to follow after you lead!