Child Safety

When you leave home......

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You've learned how to keep your children safer in your car, but how can you protect them from other drivers while they're walking or biking?

	One of the best ways is to teach them that cars can be dangerous. Kids often think that if they can see drivers, drivers can see them. They may also think cars can stop right away. If you can't walk with your children, be sure they're alert and careful and on safe routes.
	When walking with a stroller, never put it in front of you at an intersection. Keep it beside you, out of the way of traffic.
	Never let children under age five walk or cross the street alone. Hold young children's hands while crossing the street.

If they're grown-up enough, teach children over age five some simple safety rules for walking alone:

Always walk facing traffic.
Always use sidewalks or walk far on the side to the left, facing traffic.
To cross the street, stop at the curb and look left, then right, then left again. Be sure no cars are coming and keep looking back and forth while crossing.
Use crosswalks, crossing lights, and obey crossing guards.
Carry flashlights if walking at dusk or after dark and use reflective tape on clothing, which is available at hardware or sports stores.

Wearing a helmet when riding a bike reduces the risk of head injury by 85 percent. New York State Law says all children between 1 and 14 must wear helmets approved by either the Snell Memorial Foundation, American National Standards Institute (ANSI), or American Society for Testing of Materials (ASTM). Look for the sign or seal of approval on the helmet or on the box it comes in. If your child is caught riding a bike without a helmet, you may be fined up to $50.

If you cannot afford a helmet, do not let your child ride without one. Contact the New York State Injury Control Department at 518.473.1143 to find out how to get a helmet at little or no cost.

Helmets should fit over the top of the forehead. To set a good example as well as to stay safe, be sure you wear a helmet and keep bikes fixed. Finally, teach children these rules:

Don't ride in the road. Use sidewalks, driveways, or off-road paths.
If you have to ride in the road, ride on the right side going the same way as cars. Look and let cars pass before turning.
When crossing the road, stop and get off the bike. Look left, then right, then left again before crossing (just like when walking). Walk the bike across the street.

Know and obey traffic lights and traffic signs, such as Stop and Yield.
Use a horn or a bell.
Only one person rides on a bike at a time.
No passengers!
Use your left hand to signal and let cars know what you're doing:


Left Turn	Right Turn	Stop

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