Being road smart doesn't necessarily come naturally. You need to teach your children how to be safe pedestrians and how to be safe passengers whether they’re travelling in a car, bus or train. Some research shows that children under the age of nine years can’t judge speed and distances. It's not just about telling them what to do; children learn from what adults do so you need to model safe behaviour too.
Schools can also teach road safety. Browse our resources for all school ages on the Education Potal
Education Portal(external link)
An important part of teaching your children road safety is to model safe behaviour yourself and talk to your children about what you’re doing and why.
Tips on how to stay safe when walking
Road safety advice for families(external link)
Our point of view videos demonstrate how to navigate roads when pavements aren’t available.
Walking to school videos(external link)
Working alongside initiatives such as walking school buses and school travel plans, the Feet First teacher resources include online national curriculum content for teachers that cover:
Feet First teacher resources(external link)
There are also resources on:
Teach your children good habits by biking with them.
BikeReady is New Zealand's national cycling education system. Find out how to access cycle skills training and curriculum-based learning with bike riding as the context on the BikeReady website.
BikeReady website(external link)
These presentations can help young people and their families learn how to travel safely by scooter and skateboard.
Scooter safety tips(external link)
Skateboard safety tips(external link)
Teach your children how to board, travel on and leave buses safely using these tips. There’s also advice on how to safely pick up or drop off children at the bus stop.
School bus safety resources for schools(external link)
It's important for children to have the appropriate child restraint fastened correctly in the car. Make sure:
Learn about other vehicle safety features that can protect you and your passengers in a crash:
Your children need to be road smart around your home too. They should only play outdoors in areas that are well fenced and away from any traffic, including driveways.
Talk to your children about what to do if a ball, toy, pet or other item goes on to the road while they’re playing. Firstly, they need to ask an adult to get the ball or object that goes onto the road.
If this isn’t possible, they need to: