TEACHING YOUTH ABOUT WALKING SAFELY In addition to ensuring that adult citizens are aware of their responsibilities as both motorists and pedestrians when it comes to pedestrian safety, below our department has provided tips for teaching youth about walking safety.

Parents should know:

• Most young children are injured near their home or on their own street.
• Most collisions happen between 3 and 5 PM.
• Most collisions occur in fair, warm weather.
• Twice as many boys are injured as girls.

When talking about walking safety, parents should:

• focus on how the child behaves around traffic
• teach skills, rather than information; children learn by doing
• use realistic settings for practice
• reinforce good behaviors.

Basic Rules:

• Walk on the sidewalk: if no sidewalk exists, walk facing traffic as far left as possible.
• Cross at the intersection: wait for the green light or walk signal, check for traffic, and then cross.
• Stop: Always stop at the curb to look for cars.
• Look: Always look in both directions before and while crossing.
• Walk: Don't run.
• Wear light-colored clothing: at night, but do not assume it makes you visible.

Guidelines for Parents:

• Demonstrate safe behavior that shows you believe in obeying the law:
  -practice good pedestrian habits, use safety-belts, wear a helmet.
• Set clear limits for where your children may walk and ride.
• Help your child understand that obeying traffic laws as a walker or cyclist is good practice for becoming a driver someday.
• Work with children to rehearse and anticipate their concerns about traffic.

We hope you have found this page a helpful resource when it comes to Pedestrian Safety in the City of Takoma Park. If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact the department at 301.891.7102; or by writing:
Takoma Park Police Department, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD. 20912.

Click here for more information on Pedestrian Safety.

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