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Backseat Boss - Child Accident Prevention Trust

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Backseat Boss - Child Accident Prevention Trust

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Backseat Boss is a educational road safety initiative for primary school aged children. With engaging lessons, games, and activities, primary-school aged children will learn how to be safer passengers and future drivers – all in just 25 minutes!

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Help your children learn about road safety in a computing lesson

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Help your children learn about road safety in a computing lesson

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Help year 3 learn to code through an easy, fun and interactive road safety lesson.

All the coding and road safety information that you need can be found on the website.

It is suitable for all abilities and is really easy to follow for both children and staff.

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This website is designed to teach children the Green Cross Code sequence through programming the actions on a pocket computer.

The lesson should take about 90 minutes and can be altered according to the needs of your class. We recommend that children work in pairs to share a BBC micro:bit and resources.

Prior to the activity you can download the road safety resources: presentation , worksheet and road safety progress form.

To measure road safety progress, use the progress sheet at start and the end of the task. Column 1 answers at the start, column 2 answers at the end

At the end of the activity, you can use this link to put a blank program on the BBC micro:bit https://makecode.microbit.org/_E1UhdyVq6Due

1. Introduction to Road Safety

If measuring their road safety progress, ask the children to complete correct column in the progress form. Using slides 3-12, talk to the children about the green cross code and road safety and why it is important. Each day in the UK, six children are killed or seriously injured due to road incidents, that is one class per week! source: https://www.brake.org.uk

2. Organisation
Pair pupils, open tablet or login to computer. Allocate BBC micro:bit, instructions and other resources. Remind them that the hardware technology is sensitive.
3. Instructions
Using slides 13-18, Introduce coding and BBC micro:bits. Explain that they will be making programming code to represent the sequence of crossing a road. Give them a demonstration of the complete program.
4. Supervise children programming the BBC micro:bit

Children should be reminded to use the Green Cross Code MakeCode blocks, slide 16, and not the default MakeCode blocks. They should be able to create the whole program with our blocks. Children to download code to Micro:bit, and test it. Check can they do the Green Cross Code in order. Challenges - how would they change the code?

5. Show what we have learnt and discuss their learning

The children should have working micro:bit programs. If the children are going to be taken outside into a school yard, there is option to put the cut-outs and micro:bit into a craft box to ensure the computer board is kept safe. Children should be able to demonstrate their working program to the class. Please note: do not take the micro:bits out when crossing a road. Discuss what have they learnt about the Green Cross Code and how they should use it? What have they learnt about coding?

6. Progress forms

Children fill in the progress form for the second time to show progress. Talk to children about road safety, asking questions.

Extension to the activity

You can supervise children in small groups as they cross a real road using the Green Cross Code. It is important they leave the computers in the classroom, to concentrate on the road and what they have learnt.

Lesson Pack

The pictured lesson pack can be download from this link pack080823 here. The pack includes the programming card and optional cut-outs for the exercise.

1. Programmable microcomputer
The Green Cross Coding design has been created to work with the BBC micro:bit. These pocket sized microcomputers allow children to program the Green Cross Code. We bought the BBC micro:bit Go - Starter Kit which costs around £20.
2. MakeCode Programming Cards
The MakeCode programming card describes the computer code that the children will write in our lesson. The program puts "Stop, Look, Listen and Think!" actions inside events which we think will help them remember.
3. Lesson Plan
We are currently finalising the lesson plan, but the pack will contain A4 copies for teachers.
* Optional craft exercise with cutouts and box
We recommend that BBC micro:bit is placed in a craft box to protect its computer component. Make sure your box fits the board before buying. Tip - some https://www.amazon.co.uk/ boxes come with useful foam pads inside which support the electronics. To make this a little more fun we have created a set of cut-outs to place inside the craft box. The card is contained in the downloadable zip file are supplied as both coloured-in or outlined.

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This website is designed to teach children the Green Cross Code sequence through programming the actions on a pocket computer. The lesson should take about 90 minutes and can be altered according to the needs of your class. We recommend that children work in pairs to share a BBC micro:bit and resources.

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What can I share with parents and guardians about road safety?

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What can I share with parents and guardians about road safety?

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You can share this padlet to help parents or guardians talk to their children about road safety. Northumberland Road Safety - Community

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You can choose which parts of the assembly to share with your children.

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Share this with your community to support our School Crossing Patrols

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eScooter's can you use them in Northumberland

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eScooter's can you use them in Northumberland

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Useful information regarding eScooters and the law

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Free Road Safety padlet for the community

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Free Road Safety padlet for the community

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Road safety tips for parents and carers

Do you remember learning to cross the road?

Perhaps you recall lessons at school on the Green Cross Code or a parent or carer teaching you to stop, look, listen and think before crossing.

Teaching children about road safety from an early age is a really important thing that parents and carers can do.

It's a topic that even the youngest children can learn something about because they will be using the roads (including pavements), whether they are walking, cycling, scooting or travelling as a passenger in a vehicle.

Why is teaching road safety important?

Road safety is a life skill and what children learn initially with their parents and carers will be built upon as they grow up - hopefully through access to pedestrian and cycle training at school, pre-driver education and then learning to drive or motorcycle, with regular refresher training on an ongoing basis.

Sadly, 1,752 people were killed in reported road accidents in Great Britain in 2019, with nearly 26,000 seriously injured. Of those killed, 39 were children aged 15 or under.

However, road deaths and injuries do not have to happen. The last few decades have shown that the number of people killed or injured on the roads can be reduced, despite increasing traffic, through effective road safety including a mix of education, engineering and enforcement.

How can parents and carers help children learn about road safety?

A survey that we commissioned among the parents of primary school children found that less than half had received any road safety education or training within the last 12 months in school, meaning that in many cases road safety education had become the sole responsibility of parents and carers. For those children who do receive some road safety education at school, it is still vital that this is built on outside school, reinforcing the learning and setting a good example. Encouragingly, the survey also revealed that more than half of parents felt that they were best placed to teach their child road safety skills.

Road safety is best taught in a practical setting meaning that parents are ideally placed to discuss road safety topics such as safe and dangerous places to cross the road, and a great time to do this is while walking to and from school, going to the shops or park, or just walking around the local area. If you drive to school, why not park a little way away and walk the last part of the journey to give your children a chance to pick up some pedestrian skills. Children often mimic the behaviour of their parents and carers, so it is vital to be consistent and put into practice safe crossing techniques. Ultimately, parents and carers play an important role in preparing children to become independent travellers.

We have produced four short films for parents and carers with age-appropriate road safety advice to teach children aged from 4-11-years-old (pre-school, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2).

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Road Safety Advice, Information and Resources

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Road Safety and Sustainability Calendars

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Road Safety and Sustainability Calendars

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A quick view at the national road safety events, and some of the free resources available. It also includes how to request support from NCC.

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Every child is entitled to a safe journey to school. Shout out for better parking, slower speeds, etc. To sign up click on the image.​

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A supervised walk for schoolchildren aged 4-11 to shout out important road safety messages

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Join in the week long celebration of walking with a 5-day walking challenge. Schools will be able to sign up for free classroom packs and more W2SW ideas early in the year, see last year's resources here.​

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Our brand new Walk to School Week Activity Packs are now LIVE! Our five-day walking challenge is the perfect activity to run as part of our annual celebration of the walk to school in May, Walk to School Week.

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17-23 November 2024

Road Safety Week is Brake's biggest road safety campaign. Every year, thousands of schools, organisations and communities get involved to share important road safety messages, remember people affected by road death and injury. To find out more go to Road Safety Week | Brake for free stickers for your school or to organise an assembly for that week, fill in the form.

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Our biggest annual road safety campaign

Let's talk about SPEED. Five people die on UK roads every day, so why do we still think it's OK to speed? Take part in Road Safety Week 2023 and join the national conversation.

We all drive too fast sometimes...

"I didn't notice I was going so fast!"

"Everyone else is doing it so why can't I?"

"A few miles an hour won't make much difference will it?"

But every time we driver faster than the speed limit, or too fast for the road conditions, we increase the risk of a crash - and we increase the chance that someone we love will be killed or hurt on a road.
Whoever you are, however you travel, We need to talk about SPEED.

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Road Safety Week 2023 | 19-25 November 2023

Sign up now to take part in Road Safety Week 2023 and do something amazing to raise awareness of the dangers of excess or inappropriate speed. Help people understand why safe speeds are so vital for safe and healthy journeys.

Everyone who registers will get access to a free Road Safety Week action pack, full of ideas and activities.

Find out what's happening and how you can get involved. We will send updates by email to everyone who has registered.

#RoadSafetyWeek

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What is Road Safety Week?

Road Safety Week is Brake's biggest road safety campaign. Every year, thousands of schools, organisations and communities get involved to share important road safety messages, remember people affected by road death and injury, and raise funds to help Brake care for more road victims and campaign for safe roads for everyone.

News and views from the Road Safety Week community

Read more

The #Brake5 Challenge - a fun fundraising event for Road Safety Week

Read more

Find out more about the people who get involved with Road Safety Week

Read more

Road Safety Week 2023 is organised by Brake and sponsored by Arval, DHL and Autoglass. It supports the Department for Transport's Think! campaign. Thank you to all our sponsors, we couldn't do it without you!

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Use in conjunction with the journey planner

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Sign up to this website. Click on resources and you can download activities, cards, colouring in, posters, discussion cards for parents. All based on:
- holding hands crossing the road
- child car seats
- using safe places to cross the road

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Teach road safety basics to children aged 2-7

Take part in a Beep Beep! Day to teach young children important road safety basics and help parents, carers and the wider community understand how to protect children on roads.

Beep Beep! Day 2024 will take place on Wednesday 24 April 2024

Brake would like to thank everyone who took part in Beep Beep! Day 2023. With nearly 2000 nurseries, schools and childminders signed up and over 100,000 children taking part you helped make this one of our most successful Beep Beep! Days ever! We've loved seeing all your photos showing children getting involved to learn about road safety.

The next Beep Beep! Day will take place on Wednesday 24 April 2024. Sign up now for your FREE action pack* to teach road safety to young children. Your action pack includes fun activities, stickers, certificates and posters featuring characters from Aardman Animations' Timmy Time. Fill out our simple form and find out how you can get involved.
*Printed packs while stocks available.

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What is a Beep Beep! Day

A Beep Beep! Day is a road safety day run by schools, nurseries, playgroups or childminders to teach important road safety basics to very young children (aged 2-7).

Brake provides an action pack* full of ideas and fun activities that focus on three important topics:

1. Holding hands with a grown up when walking near roads

2. Crossing roads at safe places with a grown up

3. Using a child seat when travelling by car.

Beep Beep! Days are a great opportunity to talk to parents and carers about how they can help keep young children safe around roads, raise awareness in the community, or work with a local authority to address a road safety issue. It's also a great time to fundraise for Brake and support our vital work helping families who have lost loved ones in road crashes.
*Printed packs while stocks available.

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Why are Beep Beep! Days important?

Road safety is a subject that even the youngest children know something about because road danger affects everyone. Danger from traffic is a big factor in whether families are able to walk and cycle safely in their community. It affects their ability to be healthy and socially active.

Even though very young children shouldn't walk or cycle independently, they are still at risk of being hurt or killed when walking or cycling. It's not a nice fact to hear but every day six children are killed or seriously injured on UK roads - that's equivalent to a whole class of children every single week.

Road safety is the perfect topic for activities that can really engage, protect and benefit young children, and Beep Beep! Days are a perfect way to do it.

With support from Timmy and friends, we can help you to focus everyone's attention on making travel safer and healthier for all.

Every day

are killed or seriously hurt on UK roads

We regularly take part in Beep Beep! Day and enjoy using the bumper pack. The children love receiving their stickers and certificates and the information cards are very valuable for staff to use too.
Johanne Watson, Lasswade Primary School

Timmy Time - helping young children learn about road safety Down arrow icon to open accordion

Timmy's youth and inexperience make him the perfect character to help very young children learn important lessons about road safety.

As Timmy and his friends head off to Nursery, they have lots to learn about the important things in life, including caring for other people and doing 'the right thing'.

More road safety activities for schools

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Teach road safety basics to children aged 2-7

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This can be made into a short or long assembly. Choose which road safety concerns that your school needs to address.

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How to organise a school Road Safety Day

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How to organise a school Road Safety Day

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This work pack will help a school plan a fun and informative road safety day. Which will help to keep the children safe on or near roads.

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How to help your children be noticed by drivers

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Be Bright Be Seen Art and Design Ideas.htm

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This leaflet can be used as a quick reminder for staff or students going out on trips.
Why not add this to the school's risk assessment as a reminder?

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Content

Annexes

Introduction

Who The Highway Code is for, how it's worded, the consequences of not following the rules, self-driving vehicles, and the hierarchy of road users (Rules H1 to H3).

This Highway Code applies to England, Scotland and Wales. The Highway Code is essential reading for everyone.
The aim of The Highway Code is to promote safety on the road, whilst also supporting a healthy, sustainable and efficient transport system.

Wording of The Highway Code

Knowing and applying the rules, this section Many of the rules in The Highway Code are legal requirements, and if you disobey these rules you are committing a criminal offence. You may be fined, given penalty points on your licence or be disqualified from driving. In the most serious cases you may be sent to prison. Such rules are identified by the use of the words 'MUST/MUST NOT'. In addition, the rule includes an abbreviated reference to the legislation which creates the offence.

Although failure to comply with the other rules of The Highway Code will not, in itself, cause a person to be prosecuted, The Highway Code may be used in evidence in any court proceedings under the Traffic Acts (see The road user and the law) to establish liability. This includes rules which use advisory wording such as 'should/should not' or 'do/do not'.

Knowing and applying the rules

Knowing and applying the rules contained in The Highway Code could significantly reduce road casualties. Cutting the number of deaths and injuries that occur on our roads every day is a responsibility we all share. The Highway Code can help us discharge that responsibility. Further information on driving/riding techniques can be found in 'The Official DVSA Guide to Driving - the essential skills' and 'The Official DVSA Guide to Riding - the essential skills'.
gov.uk

Self-driving vehicles

By 'self-driving vehicles', we mean those listed as automated vehicles by the Secretary of State for Transport under the Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018.
To check if your vehicle is self-driving, visit Self-driving vehicles listed for use in Great Britain.
These vehicles are capable of safely driving themselves when the self-driving function is correctly turned on and the driver follows the manufacturer's instructions. While the vehicle is driving itself, you do not need to monitor it.

Self-driving vehicles differ from vehicles that are fitted only with assisted driving features (like cruise control and lane-keeping assistance). Assisted driving features can do some of the driving, but the driver still needs to be responsible for driving at all times. If you are driving a vehicle using only its assisted driving features, Rule 150 applies.

A self-driving vehicle's ability to drive itself may be limited to certain situations or parts of a journey. Things like the type of road, time of day, weather, location and speed may affect this. You should follow the manufacturer's instructions about when and how to use the self-driving function safely.

While a self-driving vehicle is driving itself in a valid situation, you are not responsible for how it drives. You may turn your attention away from the road and you may also view content through the vehicle's built-in infotainment apparatus, if available.
But you MUST still follow all relevant laws

You MUST be fit to drive (for example, you must be within the drink-drive legal limits and not be under the influence of drugs). See Rules 90 to 96.

The vehicle MUST be road legal (for example, it must have an MOT certificate, if applicable, and it must be taxed and insured). The vehicle must be roadworthy (see Rules 89 and 97; and Annexes 3 and 6). You will also still be responsible for your passengers and anything else you are carrying (see Rules 98 to 102).

You MUST NOT do anything illegal - like using a handheld mobile phone, or similar hand-held device. There are exceptions to this, which are set out in Rule 149.

If a self-driving vehicle needs to hand control back to the driver, it will give you enough warning to do this safely. You MUST always be able and ready to take control, and do it when the vehicle prompts you. For example, you should stay in the driving seat and stay awake. When you have taken back control or turned off the self-driving function, you are responsible for all aspects of driving.
Hierarchy of Road Users

Rule H1
It is important that ALL road users are aware of The Highway Code, are considerate to other road users and understand their responsibility for the safety of others.
Everyone suffers when road collisions occur, whether they are physically injured or not. But those in charge of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm in the event of a collision bear the greatest responsibility to take care and reduce the danger they pose to others. This principle applies most strongly to drivers of large goods and passenger vehicles, vans/minibuses, cars/taxis and motorcycles.
Cyclists, horse riders and drivers of horse drawn vehicles likewise have a responsibility to reduce danger to pedestrians.
None of this detracts from the responsibility of ALL road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, to have regard for their own and other road users' safety.
Always remember that the people you encounter may have impaired sight, hearing or mobility and that this may not be obvious.
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Rule H2 - Rule for drivers, motorcyclists, horse drawn vehicles, horse riders and cyclists
At a junction you should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which you are turning.
You MUST give way to pedestrians on a zebra crossing, and to pedestrians and cyclists on a parallel crossing (see Rule 195).
Pedestrians have priority when on a zebra crossing, on a parallel crossing or at light controlled crossings when they have a green signal.
You should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross a zebra crossing, and to pedestrians and cyclists waiting to cross a parallel crossing.
Horse riders should also give way to pedestrians on a zebra crossing, and to pedestrians and cyclists on a parallel crossing.
Cyclists should give way to pedestrians on shared use cycle tracks and to horse riders on bridleways.
Only pedestrians may use the pavement. Pedestrians include wheelchair and mobility scooter users.
Pedestrians may use any part of the road and use cycle tracks as well as the pavement, unless there are signs prohibiting pedestrians.

Rule H3 - Rule for drivers and motorcyclists
You should not cut across cyclists, horse riders or horse drawn vehicles going ahead when you are turning into or out of a junction or changing direction or lane, just as you would not turn across the path of another motor vehicle. This applies whether they are using a cycle lane, a cycle track, or riding ahead on the road and you should give way to them.
Do not turn at a junction if to do so would cause the cyclist, horse rider or horse drawn vehicle going straight ahead to stop or swerve.
You should stop and wait for a safe gap in the flow of cyclists if necessary. This includes when cyclists are:

approaching, passing or moving off from a junction

moving past or waiting alongside stationary or slow-moving traffic

travelling around a roundabout

Subscribe for Highway Code News
Drivers' Stories

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For cars, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders

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Who The Highway Code is for, how it's worded, the consequences of not following the rules, self-driving vehicles, and the hierarchy of road users (Rules H1 to H3). This Highway Code applies to England, Scotland and Wales.

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Helping you, if bereaved, injured, or someone you love has been injured

Brake's National Road Victim Service is a free, confidential, specialist service for you, if you have been bereaved or seriously injured in a road crash, or are supporting a road crash victim.

We understand that every road crash is different, every caller is an individual, and each set of circumstances is uniquely painful and challenging. We promise to listen, work to meet your needs and help keep you safe and supported. Our aim is to help you to feel able to cope, emotionally and practically, and adjust to your new reality. We help for as long as necessary.

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Helping you, if bereaved, injured, or someone you love has been injured Brake's National Road Victim Service is a free, confidential, specialist service for you, if you have been bereaved or seriously injured in a road crash, or are supporting a road crash victim.

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Vidoes, information, activities such as traffic light biscuits and lots of colouring.

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A website for children and families to find out more about road safety

Welcome to Brake Zebras, a website for kids who want to find out more about road safety.

Road safety is really important for kids. Sadly, every day children get hurt or killed on roads. The good news is that we know what we need to make safe and healthy journeys where we live. Join Zebras and together we can make roads safer for everyone.

For children to make safe and healthy journeys, we need:

Footpaths

Cycle paths

Safe places to cross roads

Slow traffic

Clean air to breathe

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A website for children and families to find out more about road safety Welcome to Brake Zebras, a website for kids who want to find out more about road safety. Road safety is really important for kids. Sadly, every day children get hurt or killed on roads.

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This booklet provides information for all schools.

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School communities have an important part to play in encouraging parents and children to travel to school in sustainable ways, as well as educating them on being safe and the benefits of walking and cycling, building good habits that can support a healthy lifestyle for pupils as they grow older and more independent. This section provides information on how to encourage walking and cycling to school, as well as what schools can do to engage parents and the wider school community to walk or cycle more.

Walking, wheeling and cycling to school information

How to support walking and cycling to and from school

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How schools can support walking and cycling to school

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Road Safety delivery across the age groups

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Road Safety delivery across the age groups

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There are lots of ideas here to talk about road safety with children from early years to key stage 3.

For key stage 4 and 5 look to the good egg guides.

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Find out your classes road safety behaviour, talk through good ways to improve it. Play, poem or song writing. Click here for full instructions

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Which fluorescent colour keeps your class safer?

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Which fluorescent colour keeps your class safer?

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Click to download the editable worksheet. For a pdf click here.
Contact highwaysprogramme@northumberland.gov.uk to order and borrow a hi-vis pack or book a session, alternatively you can use fluorescent paper.

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Be Bright Be Seen HiViz short version Worksheet

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There are 6 different Road Safety and a general safety online booklets that you can share with different groups, from babies to young people learning to drive. The resources cover:

Car Seat Safety

Cycling for Families

Young Driver

Parents of Young Drivers

Drivers of Scooters, Mopeds or 125cc Motorbikes

Child Safety

Older Person Safety

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Child car seat safety

New Drivers

Parents of new drivers

Motorcycle riders

Older road users

Cycling for families

In-Home Child Safety

Child car seat safety

New Drivers

Parents of new drivers

Motorcycle riders

Older road users

Cycling for families

In-Home Child Safety

Home

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Various videos for different age groups. Tales of the Road is the highway code for children that can be broken down into sections and used in a variety of ways Tales of the Road – THINK!

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Skip to content
Scroll to top

Road safety teaching resources for children

Why teaching road safety is so important

Guidance for educators

With our flexible content you can support your students to be more road aware. Our resources support different learning styles and encourage peer-to-peer expression.

Guidance for educators

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Skip to content Scroll to top Road safety teaching resources for children Why teaching road safety is so important With our flexible content you can support your students to be more road aware. Our resources support different learning styles and encourage peer-to-peer expression. Guidance for educators