Keeping Them Safe: How to Practice Road Safety for Kids

Walking or biking to school can be a common way for children to get to class when they are able and when distance, accessibility and local conditions make it practical. For some families, though, these options may not be safe or feasible, and parents may have concerns about whether their children can travel to school safely.

Road Safety Concerns in Texas

Pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility. In Texas, 6,095 traffic crashes involving pedestrians were reported in 2024 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Within that year, there were 772 deaths and 1,455 serious injuries. Drivers and people walking can help reduce the risk by staying alert, following traffic laws and watching for one another.

Elizabeth Davila, the Safe Kids San Antonio program manager at University Health, says that with the right preparation and a safe route, families can weigh these risks while still considering the health benefits of walking or biking to school.

Benefits of Walking or Biking to School

The obvious benefit of walking or biking to school is that your kids are getting exercise. By physically moving their bodies, they’d be improving their health for now and in the future.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children between the ages of 6 and 17 get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day. Most kids don’t get that.

In fact, the 2024 United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth gave physical activity a D-minus, noting that only 20% to 28% of children in that age range regularly meet the 60-minute recommendation.

That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) highlights walking and bike riding as healthy ways to get to and from school. As they put it, “Skipping the school drop-off traffic for more active commutes can contribute to the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity kids need each day.”

Physical activity helps children and teens build strong bones and muscles, maintain good heart and lung fitness, and develop stronger motor skills and coordination. Children who are physically active are also at a lower risk of conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

What Age Is Safe to Walk or Bike to School?

Children of any age can walk or bike to school alongside a parent or another adult. Introducing your kids to walking or biking to school when they start kindergarten or even prekindergarten can help them build a long-term habit.

The AAP recommends waiting until children are at least 10 years old before allowing them to walk or bike to school on their own. The organization notes that younger children are more impulsive and less observant, which can be dangerous around traffic.

Until they reach that age, accompanying them to school can help you teach them road safety for kids. Observing you take precautions to safely travel the roads helps them learn.

Choosing Safe Routes to School

Have more than one route to school from your house? Davila says families can follow these tips on how to choose the path that’s safest:

• Choose a route that has a sidewalk or path that’s separated from the road.
• If possible, opt for roads that have designated crossing guards to help people cross the street.
• Limit the number of streets to cross, choosing quieter roads when possible.

One other thing to consider? Some streets and neighborhoods have lower speed limits and “kids at play” signs. It may be helpful to include those in your route.

Teaching Your Children About Pedestrian Safety

Before your kids walk or bike to school for the first time, talk with them about how to stay safe along the way. “This isn’t a one-time lesson. Repeat it every year, updating it to align with their age and maturity,” said Davila.

She recommends starting with these basic safety rules:

Stay visible around vehicles. Take extra care near turning vehicles, parked or stopped cars that may block a child’s view, driveways, parking lots and vehicles that are backing up. When crossing, children should make eye contact with drivers when possible, wait until vehicles have stopped and continue watching traffic because one stopped vehicle does not mean every lane is safe. At night or when visibility is poor, reflective materials or a flashlight can help drivers see children.

Go slow. Walk instead of running, and bike at a steady pace instead of speeding along.

Observe traffic signals. Before walking or biking to school, kids need to know what each traffic signal or sign means and what to do in each scenario.

Only cross at designated crosswalks. Drivers are more likely to see children in a crosswalk than if they try to cross the road without one.

Pay attention. Teach kids to be aware of their surroundings and avoid distractions such as friends, phones or music.

Stay away from cars. Remain on the sidewalk or path, avoiding the direct path of cars, buses, and other motor vehicles.

Know which direction to travel. When there is no sidewalk, pedestrians should generally walk on the left side or shoulder facing oncoming traffic, unless that side is obstructed or unsafe. People riding bicycles should follow applicable traffic laws and ride in the same direction as traffic.

Wear a helmet when biking. That’s an essential of bike safety for kids: Any time your child is on a bike, a well-fitting helmet should be worn.

Wear something bright. Choose bright-colored or reflective clothing, a jacket, or a backpack to help drivers more easily see your kids.

Because biking is a bit more challenging than walking, make sure your kids are savvy bike riders before allowing them to travel to school on their own. It’s important for them to be adept at bike safety for kids, including how to signal a turn and where and how to ride.

While you can teach your kids safety guidelines, remember that many crashes involving children are caused by distracted drivers rather than pedestrians. Prepare children for what to do if a driver is swerving or otherwise seems dangerous: move as far away from the road as possible, stop and wait for the vehicle to pass before continuing.

How Drivers Can Help Keep Pedestrians Safe

Children can learn safer habits, but drivers also play an important role in preventing pedestrian crashes. Texas law requires drivers to exercise due care to avoid colliding with pedestrians and to stop and yield at crosswalks in circumstances outlined by state law.

• Slow down near crosswalks, schools, neighborhoods and bus stops, and be prepared to stop.
• Stop and yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, including when turning.
• Never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk; a pedestrian may be crossing outside your view.
• Put away your phone and check carefully for people when backing out of driveways or parking spaces.
• Use extra caution at night, in poor weather and when driving larger vehicles with bigger blind spots.

“This can seem like a lot of information to share with your kids, but every little bit helps them become safer pedestrians and bike riders,” said Davila. As the region’s Level I trauma center for adults and children, University Hospital supports University Health’s commitment to preventing injuries before they happen through its Injury Prevention program.

Learn more injury prevention tips on our website.