A Kid’s Guide to Safe Walking

Walking is very cool - it's free, it's great exercise, and you can do it to get almost anywhere! You can visit your friends, travel to school, or go to movies, shopping, worship, museums, or sporting events.

What's not cool is when young people are killed or injured while walking. So here are some important things to remember so you can stay safe and healthy.

Safety Tips for Crossing the Street

• Stop at the curb, or the edge of the road if there is no curb.

• Stop and look left, then right, then left again for moving cars, before you step into the street.

• If you see a car, wait until it goes by. Then look left, right, left again until no cars are coming.

• If a car is parked where you are crossing, look to make sure there is no driver and that the car is not running.

• Then go to the edge of the car and look left-right-left to see if cars are coming.

• When no cars are coming, walk - do not run - across the road. Keep looking for cars while you are crossing.

Things to Remember When Walking

• Walk on the sidewalk if there is one.

• If there is no sidewalk and you have to walk on the road, be sure to walk facing traffic.

• Darting out in front of a parked car is dangerous. The driver of the car coming down the street can't see you.

• Be safe. Be seen. Brightly colored clothing makes it easier for drivers to see you during the daytime. But at night, you need to have a flashlight or wear special reflective material on your shoes, cap, or jacket that bounces the car's lights off you and back to the driver.