Child Safety: Streets and Motor Vehicles
Topic Overview
It takes a lot of repetition to teach young children about the dangers of streets, cars, and other vehicles. Motor vehicles can cause severe injury and death, so it is very important that you are not lax about enforcing these rules.
Help prevent an accident or injury by following these suggestions:
- Don't allow your child to play near the garage or driveway or around cars.
- Make a habit of checking under and behind your car before driving.
- Closely supervise children while they are playing or riding tricycles or bikes near the street. If possible, keep all activities in areas that are protected from the street and cars.
- Don't let a child younger than age 10 play near or cross the street alone.
- Show your child what behavior you expect, such as crossing streets appropriately at lights and crosswalks.
- Reinforce looking left, right, and left again before crossing the street.
- Teach your child to walk facing traffic on the far left-hand side of the street, unless there is a sidewalk.
- Don't let children younger than age 16 ride on all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
Related Information
References
Other Works Consulted
- Collins CL, et al. (2007). Children plus all nonautomobile motorized vehicles (not just all-terrain vehicles) equals injuries. Pediatrics, 120(1):134-141.
- Committee on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics (2009). Policy statement: Pedestrian safety. Pediatrics, 124(2): 802-812.
- Gardner HG, American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention (2007). Clinical report: Office-based counseling for unintentional injury prevention. Pediatrics, 119(1): 202-206.
Credits
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer John Pope, MD, MPH - Pediatrics
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Current as ofMarch 28, 2018
- Top of Page
Next Section:
Related Information
Previous Section:
Topic Overview- Top of Page
Next Section:
References
Previous Section:
Related Information- Top of Page
Next Section:
Credits
Previous Section:
References- Top of Page
Current as of: March 28, 2018
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: John Pope, MD, MPH - Pediatrics & Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine