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LV= Streetwise's Cycling Safety Tips For Parents
It’s up to every parent to decide the best time to allow their child to cycle
unsupervised, based on their ability and cycling environment, but whenever you
decide, it’s important to make sure they know how to be safe on the roads. With
that in mind, here are a few tips to help keep them out of harm’s way while
they’re enjoying the ride and building their confidence on two wheels.
- All young people should undertake a cycling training course before
cycling on the roads by themselves. Experts recommend a minimum age of ten
years for on-road cycle training courses - below this age children are less
likely to be able to successfully cope with the joint tasks of managing a
bicycle and negotiating traffic situations. To find out more about cycling
courses for your child, log on to
www.bikeability.org.uk;
- Ensure children wear a cycle helmet. According to LV= Streetwise
research less than half of children are asked to wear a cycling helmet by
their parents;
- If you feel your child is too young to cycle safely on the road, ask
them to ride on the pavement (with care and consideration for pedestrians).
Although pavement cycling is technically illegal unless on a cycle path, the
police are likely to show discretion to young children for whom cycling on
the road would not be a safe option;
- Young cyclists should always wear light coloured, fluorescent and
reflective clothing to help them be seen, as well as having lights on their
bike;
- Be aware of the density of the traffic and any problems on the route
before thinking about letting your child out unsupervised;
- Before they set off, travel the route with them a few times so that they
are confident and familiar with where they’ll be going. You may wish to
cycle behind them for a few weeks to build their confidence;
- Accidents do happen and it’s important to be prepared, so ensure your
child is able to respond in an emergency. Make sure they know how to make a
999 call, are aware of their home telephone number and know their own
address;
- There is safety in numbers, so where possible ensure your child has a
cycling ‘buddy’ whenever they’re out– such as a friend or older sibling;
- As well as being road safe, it’s a good idea to ensure your child knows
how to respond to other risks – such as meeting strangers, or getting lost.
Perhaps ask them to carry a mobile phone so they can get in touch if they
run into trouble;
- If your child is cycling to school or to a friend’s house, let another
adult (e.g. teacher, friend’s parent, babysitter) know and provide them with
an idea of when they can expect your child to arrive.
For details on local cycle training courses parents should contact their
council’s Road Safety Team who will be happy to help, or visit
www.streetwise.org.uk
for more information.
At LV= Streetwise, we believe that it is vital for young people to take small
steps towards independence from a young age in order to learn to react to
dangerous situations with confidence. That means educating children about the
dangers on the roads and in the home, through initiatives such as the LV=
Streetwise safety road show, which is touring the UK this summer. Parents and
young people can find out more about LV= Streetwise and the
safety bus roadshow by visiting
www.streetwise.org.uk.
About LV= Streetwise
LV= Streetwise is a registered charity and a multi-agency partnership
project, and is sponsored by insurance group LV=. The project, based in
Bournemouth, was inspired, created and run with the support of Dorset’s
emergency services: Dorset Fire & Rescue, Dorset Police, NHS Bournemouth &
Poole, Dorset County Council, Bournemouth Borough Council and Borough of Poole.
The LV= Streetwise safety centre has won the European Community Fire Safety
Award and the NHS Health Improvement Beacon Award.
The LV= Streetwise safety bus roadshow is a free, fully interactive
educational experience aimed at children aged 5-11 that is touring various
summer events across the UK to help educate children on safety issues.
Through hands-on interactive role play in road, rail, fire and home safety
education children:
- become aware of potential everyday dangers
- learn to make responsible choices
- understand possible consequences
- reduce the chance of accidents happening
- learn in a safe, controlled environment.
LV= Streetwise aims to give children a head start in their safety education,
supporting parents and schools in providing kids with essential skills for life.
The LV= Streetwise safety bus roadshow will be
touring the UK this summer visiting county shows and regional summer events as
follows:
- Wolves Show (July 10-11)
- The LV= Streetwise 999 Family Fun Day in Bournemouth (July 18)
- Sunderland Air Show (July 24-25)
- Croydon Festival (July 31)
- Nottingham Riverside Festival (August 6-8)
- Bristol Balloon Fiesta (August 12-15)
- Bournemouth Air Show (August 19)
- Cardiff Harbour Festival (August 28)
- Chatsworth Country Fair (September 3)
- Royal County of Berkshire Show (September 18-19)
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