Road safety education for kids: Building a foundation for the responsible driver
By Motor Match • 09/10/2023
We leave an impression on our children earlier than we think, so what can we do to build the foundation for responsible driving from an early impressionistic age? We take a look.
And whilst safety is intertwined with every part of the driving curriculum, why wait until our future drivers are behind the wheel to teach them about responsible driving?
Official 2020 stats from the Department for Transport show an 8.7% year-on-year rise in British road-accidents, and 1 in 5 serious collisions involving one younger car driver.
So, with these figures in mind, the team at Motor Match thought we’d put this to the test with five helpful ways in which you can teach your little ones the importance of car safety before they begin their driving journey.
- Embrace imagination
- Make walks educational
- Solidify good habits
- The power of technology
Embrace imagination
Kids have an amazing knack for transporting themselves to worlds of their own imagination. So why not harness this natural instinct of theirs to teach them some important life lessons?
By allowing them to become a driver in their imagination, your child can grasp an early understanding of the responsibilities behind the wheel.
With some guidance, they will quickly come to learn that it’s not just about steering a wheel but about awareness and responsibility. And as a pedestrian, they’ll learn the importance of being cautious and alert.
Let’s face it, kids are much more likely to remember something if they’ve had fun learning it. Role-playing transforms road safety from an uninspiring lecture into a more engaging game - one that offers the chance for you to bond, laugh, and learn with your little one together!
Make walks educational
Walking together with your kid can be more than just a means of getting from A to B; it can be an open classroom waiting to be explored.
Zebra crossings? They’re not just stripes on the road, that’s where you can cross safely!
The red, yellow, and green of traffic lights? They’re not just pretty lights to stare at! They tell drivers when to stop and go!
And beyond just pointing these things out, make sure you let them know why they’re important. Talk to them about why you should always look both ways before crossing a street, for example.
Walks are an understated treasure for you and your child, an amazing opportunity for you to bond, chat, build trust, and create memories together. It’s an uninterrupted time for you both to connect - well away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Solidify good habits
Understanding the rules is an important first step, but putting them into practice consistently is where real change happens.
And what is more important in the world of driving safety than putting on your seatbelt? Teaching our kids to always buckle up wherever they are in the car with you will make sure that they’re always safer, especially during the drive.
According to a study from the European Journal of Social Psychology, it takes about 2 months before a habit becomes automatic behaviour. So, if you teach them early about the importance of buckling up, by the time it comes to them being behind the wheel, putting on the seatbelt will be second nature to them, like brushing their teeth or tying their laces.
Use the power of technology
The kids of the 2020s are more connected than ever. They’re navigating tablets sooner than they’re learning to tie their shoelaces! In fact, according to Ofcom, 64% of children aged 3-17 use tablets.
So, why not harness this tech-savviness to help instil something as vital as road safety?
There’s a whole world of apps and online games that are specifically designed to educate the younger generations on the do’s and dont’s of the road. The best part? They’re not just informative, they’re also engaging and will make sure that kids absorb and retain the information.
Picture it: A game where kids get to navigate virtual roads, make decisions about when to stop, go, and which way to turn - and more!
These simulated scenarios offer a safe environment for kids to learn and make mistakes without any real world consequences.
By integrating tech teaching into our kids’ lives, we offer an innovative way to prepare for their future roles as responsible drivers.
Paving the way to a safer future
Teaching our little ones about road safety isn’t just about being prepared for the here and now, it’s about laying down the groundwork for the next generation of responsible drivers.
Every time we instil these values into our kids, we’re not only safeguarding their future, but creating a more secure driving environment for everyone else. And, when it comes to finding their perfect car with finance options that suit you best, keep it right here at Motor Match.
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