Pedestrian Safety

Pedestrian accidents have become the most common cause of serious injury and death among children 5- to 9-years-old and each year more than 1,300 children under the age of 14 die in pedestrian-related incidents.

Children should learn street safety as soon as they are ready to walk outdoors. Many young children cross streets without an adult, but very few under the age of 10 can deal safely with traffic. Their age and small size put them at risk. Here are some reasons why:

  • Young children believe that if they can see a driver, a driver can see them.
  • Young children think cars can stop instantly.
  • Young children can't tell the exact origin and location of sounds.
  • Few young children can judge how fast traffic is moving.
  • A child's field of vision is one-third that of adults.
  • Young children often don't recognize danger or react to it properly.

Kids learn safety by watching and doing. Go for walks with your children and be a good role model. You should cross the street hundreds of times with your children before letting them cross the street alone. Supervise your children until you are confident they are safe pedestrians.

Kosair Children's Hospital offers these safety tips to avoid a pedestrian injury:

  • Make sure children look in all directions before crossing the street. Look left, right and left again. Always cross at a corner or crosswalk and walk, not run, through the intersection. Watch for turning vehicles at corners.
  • Teach children the meaning of all traffic signals and how to safely obey them. A flashing "walk" sign means a pedestrian has permission to cross, but children should stop and check for cars before proceeding.
  • Teach children not to enter the street from between parked cars or from behind bushes or shrubs. Darting into the street accounts for more than 50 percent of pedestrian injuries among children 0- to 9-years-old.
  • Make sure children always use sidewalks. If there is no sidewalk, they should keep to the left and walk facing traffic.
  • If children must walk at night, make sure they can be seen easily. They should wear light-colored clothing and/or trim their clothes and shoes with reflective tape.
  • Warn children to be extra alert in bad weather. Visibility may be poor and motorists may not be able to stop as quickly.
  • If your children walk to school, choose the safest and most direct route, with the fewest street crossings, and walk it with your children until they demonstrate traffic awareness. Require your children to take the same route each day and to avoid taking short-cuts.

In An Emergency

If you believe your child needs emergency care, contact your child's doctor. If you're unable to reach your physician - or in the event of a serious emergency - bring your child straight to the emergency department at Kosair Children's Hospital, any hour of the day or night. Kosair Children's has the staff, the facilities, the equipment, and the technology to handle any pediatric emergency, from the smallest cut to the most serious injury.

Why Kosair Children's Hospital Cares

Kosair Children's Hospitalis Kentucky's only free-standing, full-service hospital dedicated exclusively to caring for children, adolescents and young adults. We have a strong commitment to the health and safety of all children. For more information on pedestrian safety or to inquire about free fact sheets on a variety of health and safety subjects, call 502-629-KIDS or 1-800-852-1770.