Road safety information for parents

Parents and carers can use this checklist to teach children about road safety and help them travel safely to and from school.

You can also print the student travel planner checklist PDF (676.3 KB).

Walking to school with your child

• Practice walking to and from school together.
• Always use the designated crossings correctly.
• Wait for traffic to stop before crossing the road.
• Talk about safe places to cross and the importance of staying alert around traffic.

Riding to school

• Read the information on cycling safety.
• Teach your child how to correctly fit and fasten their helmet.
• Practice riding to and from school together.
• Make sure your child’s bike is roadworthy and fitted with the required safety equipment.

Driving to school

Talk to your child about:

• always wearing a seatbelt or using an appropriate child restraint
• being a safe and responsible passenger
• safe school drop off and pick up locations
• using the car safety door when getting in and out of the vehicle.  Children should enter and exit through the rear door closest to the kerb, where possible.

Travelling to school by bus

Parents and caregivers can use the  following tips to help children travel safely to and from school by bus.

• Read the code of conduct for school bus travel.
  Code of conduct for school bus travel PDF (467.8 KB)
  Code of conduct for school bus travel DOCX (311.3 KB)
• Ensure your child is capable of travelling independently.
• Practice walking to and from the bus stop.
• Teach your child to stay well back from the road and wait until the bus has stopped before getting on.
• Teach your child to wait until the bus has moved away before crossing the road.
• Discuss what to do if they miss their stop.  Children should stay on the bus and tell the driver rather than getting off at the next stop.
• Discuss a backup travel plan in case weather conditions affect bus timetables or routes.