Pedestrian Safety

We are all pedestrians at some point in our daily lives, so we need to be aware of what it takes to stay safe. This is especially true for children and teens as pedestrian injuries are one of the leading causes of injury-related deaths for kids aged 14 and under in Canada. While slowing down and driving with care can definitely reduce these tragedies, making sure that kids and parents know the important safety tips below can also go a long way. Read on for lesson plans to teach kids how to stay safe.

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Lesson Plans by Grade Level

Walking Your Way to Safety

Primary – Kindergarten to Grade 3
Discuss pedestrian safety rules and then put them in context with a walking tour of your school’s neighbourhood. Talk about street signs and how to safely cross the road.

Bingo your Way to Safety

Primary – Kindergarten to Grade 3
Lead your students in learning to identify common traffic signs found in their community through a fun craft and interactive, on-their-feet game of bingo.

Pedestrian Safety

Junior – Grades 4 to 6
Have your students plan and lead a walk around the neighbourhood for their primary grade buddies. This will give them the opportunity to share their expertise on road safety.

Vehicle Safety

Junior – Grades 4 to 6
Small groups contribute to a gallery of posters addressing rules and safety suggestions for cycling, riding an ATV, in-line skating, skateboarding, walking and snowmobiling.

Pedestrian Safety

Intermediate – Grades 7 and 8
The use of technology is an important element of this lesson. Students will use their media literacy skills to create public service announcements (PSAs) to show how pedestrians can prevent or avoid danger.

Transportation and Safety

Intermediate – Grades 7 and 8
Take your students through a guided group discussion to learn and identify common safety risks. Then, through a dodgeball-like game that simulates common hazards, they’ll learn how to stay safe—whether they’re biking, walking or skateboarding around their neighbourhood.

Risky Behaviour and Prevention

Secondary – Grades 9 to 12
Through a group discussion and a fun guessing-game activity, students will learn about unsafe behaviours for different modes of transportation, how to identify common road signs, and the importance of being socially responsible so that everyone in the community stays safe.

Knowing the Facts on Pedestrian Safety

Talk to your students about pedestrian safety

It’s important to talk to young students about pedestrian safety. Knowing when and how to cross the road and to be aware of one’s surroundings is essential. There are a number of things you can do to teach kids how to stay safe while walking to and from school:

  • Have a discussion to determine whether students in your class know and understand the rules of the road.
  • How familiar are they with the route to school? Talk about what should happen at any crosswalks or traffic lights they encounter.
  • Explain why taking a shortcut could be dangerous.
  • Teach the importance of having an emergency plan—do they know who to contact if they get lost or run into trouble?
  • Teach the golden rule of pedestrian safety: Look both ways before you cross the street. This rule is simple, easy to remember and saves lives.

To cross a street safely by themselves, children need three important skills:

  • The ability to decide on and use a safe crossing route
  • The ability to properly assess a vehicle’s speed
  • The ability to judge safe gaps in traffic

Safety tips for pedestrians

  • Cross at marked crosswalks or traffic lights. Avoid jaywalking.
  • Make eye contact with drivers before you cross to make sure you are seen.
  • Cross when traffic has come to a complete stop.
  • When you’re at a traffic light, cross at the beginning of a green light. Don’t cross once the “Don’t Walk” signal begins to flash or once the light has turned yellow.
  • Watch out for traffic turning at intersections or entering/leaving driveways.
  • Wear bright or reflective clothing to help others see you.
  • Be aware of your surroundings. Avoid distractions like texting or wearing headphones.

Safety tips for drivers

  • Always look for pedestrians crossing the road, especially when making a turn, and watch for children running across the road or darting out from between parked cars.
  • Drive slowly through school zones and residential areas and watch out for Community Safety Zone signs.
  • Be careful around public transit vehicles—follow streetcar and bus laws in order to protect pedestrians getting on and off, and be patient with children and the elderly who may need more time.
  • Safe driving requires your full attention and focus. It is illegal for drivers in Ontario to talk, text, type, dial or email using cell phones and other hand-held communication and entertainment devices while driving. Penalties include fines, license suspension and demerit points.

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