Crossing the Road
Stop. Look. Listen. Live.
When you were younger it's likely you were taught the basics about road safety and crossing the road. From TV commercials featuring singing hedgehogs; your parents telling you to wait for the green man at a crossing; and perhaps even Debra the Zebra visiting your school, you've probably learnt a lot about road safety.
But now that you're older, those lessons are still just as important and will remain to be for the rest of your life.
Deadly Distractions
Traffic is the biggest cause of accidental death for 12 to 16 year olds.
You might be out walking and having fun with friends or chatting on your mobile phone or listening to music. Distractions while crossing the road can lead to deadly consequences. It's important to pay attention to traffic before you step off the kerb. When you're out and about as a pedestrian, concentrate on keeping yourself safe.
In a survey of 1000 teenagers conducted in 2005, almost 1 in 5 reported having been involved in a road accident or 'near miss' on their way home from school*.
See the phone on the right to watch the Department for Transport's 'Camera Phone' TV road safety campaign for teenagers.
Watch out for yourself and your mates
65% of surveyed teenagers have had to stop a friend from having an accident while crossing the road by either pulling them back or calling out.
If you think your friends might be prone to distraction while out walking or you know that they like to do stuff like texting while crossing roads, do them a favour and point them to the THINK! Road Safety website (link at the bottom of the page).
* DfT survey carried out by TNS between 14 and 20 July, 2005.
Related External Links:
- THINK! Road Safety
Stay safe on the roads by following the advice on this Department for Transport website.