Road Safety for Children

More than 260000 children globally die from traffic injuries. They may have been pedestrians, bicyclists, car occupants, motorcycle riders or motorcycle passengers, or passengers on public transport. In some countries, children work on the streets, usually selling merchandise, where they weave in and out of moving traffic. Disabilities and impairments can hinder the progress of children in their early years depriving them of education and social development.

Traditionally, road safety for children has focused on road safety education - with the assumption that children must be taught how to adapt their behaviour. However, when used in isolation education does not deliver permanent reductions in traffic deaths and serious injuries. The systems approach has proved valuable in delivering greater road safety for children.