Teenagers as Pedestrians

The Facts

Young people aged between 11 and 16 are more at risk of being killed or seriously injured as a pedestrian or cyclist in a road accident than any other age group.
Traffic is the biggest cause of accidental death of 12 to 16-year-olds.
1 in 5 teenagers report having been involved in a road accident or “near miss” on their way home from school. But only 4 per cent said that road safety was their main concern.
Research has found that teenagers are easily distracted on the roads, especially when they’re with small groups of friends.

Give the road your full attention when you’re crossing, even if you’re with a group of friends. Look out for them too.
Don’t use your mobile to talk or text while you’re crossing.
Listening to music is distracting while crossing the road - you won’t be able to hear or concentrate properly on the traffic.
Don’t take chances when you cross the road - cars may not be able to stop, or you may not be able to judge the speed correctly - so wait for a big gap in the traffic.
It’s safer if you use a pedestrian crossing. There’s usually one only a short distance away.
Always wear something bright if you are out in low light conditions or if it’s dark. Being seen by traffic is essential to staying safe.