Road safety is one of the biggest issues plaguing our country. More than 1.5 lac people lose their lives on Indian roads every year. The government has consistently deployed funds to reduce road fatalities. Traditionally a big chunk of the funds has always been dedicated towards awareness. However, awareness programs show minimal results.
Most adults won’t suddenly start wearing helmets because someone online or at a seminar told them to do it. Adults require internal motivation as there is always some internal filter in their minds that prevents adults from learning something new.
Picking up road safety habits is not an issue with children.
It is easier for children to adopt road safety habits
Children do not have any filters while trying to learn new things. They absorb everything around them like a sponge. The only thing that children require is guidance. This is where adults have an important role to play.
Road safety habits should be inculcated in children in the formative years (under 10 years). Habits encouraged at a young age are more likely to stay with children throughout their lives.
It is the duty of every parent and teacher to encourage positive road safety habits in children. It is one of the important things that parents can do to take their family’s safety into their own hands. Otherwise, children take needless risks when they grow up.
There are two ways through which parents can build road safety habits in children: active teaching and passive teaching.
Building road safety habits through active teaching
Active teaching involves practices that are taught in person or through a learning program. These include:
For younger children (10 years or below):
1. Explaining that footpaths are for pedestrians and roads are for vehicles. Make it a habit to always use a footpath when you walk with your child.
2. Children should be taught to only use the pedestrian crossing/underpass/overhead bridge to cross the road. Especially the practice of looking “left-right-left” before crossing.
3. Good practices while cycling: always wear a helmet, stay away from busy roads and highways, staying visible by using bright clothes and reflectors. Make sure you follow these practices when you go cycling with your child.
4. Children at this age can also be given a short introduction to traffic signals, identifying pedestrian crossings and cycle lanes through signage, etc.
For older children (above 10 years):
As children get older and more independent, they are able to make their choices. Sadly, it is also the age when children are at the highest risk of being involved in a road crash. Hence, it is very important that parents continue to encourage road safety habits till the children become adults. In addition to continuing the practices discussed earlier, parents should also discuss these topics:
1. The risks and effects of life-changing injuries caused by road crashes.
2. Importance of staying attentive while on roads, both while walking and driving. Discourage the use of mobile phones.
3. If your child is ready to cycle or drive independently, teach them the different road marking on Indian roads.
3. Older children can also be given an introduction to some topics related to driving and safety such as basic crash physics, airbags, safety tips for two-wheelers, etc.
4. Older children also need to be informed about the negative effects of alcohol and drugs on driving.
Active teaching works the best when the sessions are practical. Instead of just telling your child about crossing the road correctly, make it a rule to always use the pedestrian crossing and footpaths every time you are walking on the road with your child. Or while driving yourself make sure you don’t use mobile phones and obey the traffic rules. The same applies to good cycling practices.
Building road safety habits through passive teaching
Unlike active teaching, passive teaching does not involve road safety discussions or lessons for children. Passive teaching involves using practices that subconsciously build good road safety habits in children. The two primary practices that can be used in passive teaching involve:
1. Making a child wear a helmet every time they travel on a two-wheeler. A child who is wearing a helmet from a younger age will continue to do the same even after growing up.
2. Using a child car seat from birth. Using a child seat will subconsciously send a message that getting strapped in a belt is the correct and safe thing to do. This will ensure that your child will continue to wear a seat belt after graduating from the child seat. You can check this article if you want to learn more about child seats.
Passive teaching methods are easier for parents to incorporate. Even without taking any extra effort in teaching, parents can ensure that their child has developed good road safety habits that will stay with them throughout their lives.
Parents also have to do their part
It is easier to create road safety awareness among children by teaching than it is for adults. However, just educating children on positive road safety principles is not enough. Children tend to emulate their parents. A child may get confused if the parents themselves are not following the same road safety rules they teach.
For e.g. A parent tells a child that wearing a helmet is important. But, in day-to-day life, if the child sees that the parent does not wear the helmet, the child will get the feeling that helmets are not necessary for adults and stop wearing a helmet altogether after a certain age. The same applies to wearing a seat belt, crossing the road, wearing a helmet, using mobile phones while driving, etc. Parents have to practice what they preach if they want their children to be safe on the roads.
A final note
Road safety awareness programs for children are necessary. Teaching children is much easier as children are more likely to build road safety habits.
Creating healthy road safety habits is a duty of every parent. By doing this, not only are we keeping our children safe but, we are also ensuring that future generations will not face the same problems with road safety that we do.
Feel free to share this article with other parents. Road safety is a collective effort and I hope all parents can contribute towards a safer future.
Last Updated on August 23, 2022 by RohanG