Road & Personal Safety Skills
It is important for young people to understand the Green Cross Code and to have stranger awareness skills to help keep themselves safe and make their route safer.
Further advice from ROSPA about teaching children about road safety can be found here.
Types of crossing
Pelican crossing
Controlled by traffic lights. Press the button and wait for the green person to cross.
Puffin crossing
Like Pelican crossings but they have an ‘intelligent’ sensor.
Toucan crossing
Controlled by Pelican or Puffin style signals but allow cyclists to cross riding their bikes.
Pegasus crossing
A Pelican crossing but special consideration is given to mounted horse riders.
Zebra crossing
Pedestrians have the right of way, but don’t assume a road user has seen you.
Traffic Islands
Pedestrians have the right of way, but don’t assume a road user has seen you.
Stranger awareness and personal safety
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Avoid shortcuts through unlit areas.
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Do not accept lifts from strangers.
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Be aware of what is going on, using headphones may stop you from hearing traffic.
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Cross roads in safe places, using crossings and avoid bends in roads.
Tips
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Talk about who are safe people. People in uniform such as Police Officers/Shop Workers.
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Mobile phones. Set reminders to charge them before heading out of the home and save important numbers to it.
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Thoroughly plan your journey, using the safest route. Use Suffolkonboard to help.
Other useful resources:
NSPCC – Home or Out Alone Guidance
Crucial Crew Suffolk – Personal Safety Quiz – check their knowledge
NiDirect – Pedestrian facilities for blind and partially signed people.
Use apps like Life 360, Glympse or Find Me to track a mobile phone location.
