How to Walk to School Safely

Walking to school can be a nice way to start your day. It is nice to get some fresh air in the morning. It is also good way to get some exercise and talk to your friends and family in the morning. [1] If you want to walk to school, you should choose a good route and exercise caution so that you get there safely. [2] A safe route to school has good intersections with crossing guards and has a sidewalk the entire length of the route. Walking a safe route to school with your parents, friends, or a larger group can be a great way to get some exercise on the way to school.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Finding a Guardian, Friend or Group for Your Walk to School

  1. Find one of your parents and ask them if they can walk you to school. They can help you find a good walking route. This way you can spend some time with them before you go to school and they go to work.
    • If you are between four and six years of age, walk to school with one of your parents or a guardian. [3]
    • If you are between seven and nine years of age, you may feel more independent but you should still walk to school with a parent or guardian. [4]
    • If you are ten years or older, you may be able to walk to school on your own. Start by walking the route with your parents or a guardian and then ask them if you can walk the route on your own. [5]
    • You might ask your parents: “Can you walk me to school tomorrow morning? I want to learn the route to school so I can eventually walk to school on my own. Maybe we can walk together tomorrow?”
  2. [6] If your parents are busy in the morning, it might be best to walk to school with one of your neighborhood friends and their parents. Make sure you have permission from your parents to walk to school with them.
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  3. A walking school bus is a group of friends, neighbors and guardians walking to school together. You will be walking to school with a small or large group of people, so you can talk to your friends or neighbors while walking to school. Ask your parents if there is a walking school bus in your neighborhood that you can join. [7]
    • You might tell your parents: “I heard about a walking school bus that leaves at eight o'clock in the morning from the church. Can I join it?”
  4. If you are ten years or older and are very familiar with your route to school, your parents might let you walk to school on your own or with a friend. [8] Ask your parents if you can walk to school on your own.
    • You might say, “I have been walking the same route to school for three years. I know the route very well now. The crossing guard knows me and I always look both ways before crossing the street. Can I walk to school on my own now?”
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Getting Prepared and Comfortable with Your Walking Route

  1. [9] A safe walking route has sidewalks all the way to the school. The route should also have great visibility at intersections. This means that you can easily see cars coming at the intersection. Your route should also be free of hazards such as major construction projects. Preferably, the route also has crossing guards at important intersections.
    • Choose roads with less traffic and lower speed limits.
    • Crossing guards help you get across the street safely. [10]
    • If there are no sidewalks, you should find roads with large shoulders and walk against oncoming traffic on the shoulder of the road.
    • If your regular route has a construction project, you should find an alternative route.
  2. Walk your route with a parent or guardian and ask them for tips on how to cross intersections. Once you have walked your route many times, you will be more comfortable with walking to school.
  3. Safe spots are restaurants, stores, libraries, police stations, and your parents' friends' houses. [11] If you get scared of something or someone, you can go to one of these safe spots for help.
  4. You should have a walking route that avoids isolated places like empty parking lots or deserted houses. [12]
  5. You never know when you are going to get thirsty, so remember to bring your water bottle.
    • Choose a water bottle that does not leak. [13]
    • Choose a water bottle that is free of BPA and other chemicals. [14]
    • Choose an insulated water bottle to keep your water at a nice temperature. [15]
  6. Remember to wear comfortable walking shoes and colored clothing. Colorful clothing will help make you visible to oncoming traffic.
    • In the fall and winter, remember to wear warm clothing. You want to make sure you are warm while walking to school. [16]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Maintaining Awareness of Your Surroundings

  1. A safe crossing has fewer cars and a clear view of traffic. Ideally, a safe crossing also has a crossing guard. [17]
    • Look to see if there is a crossing guard. If there is a crossing guard, they will tell you when to cross the street.
  2. Before you cross the street, look in both directions to make sure there are no cars coming. Once you have determined that there are no cars coming, you can cross the intersection.
    • If there is a crossing guard, follow their instructions on when to cross the street. [18]
  3. While you are walking to school, you should keep your head up and know where the traffic is at all times. [19]
  4. [20] A stranger is someone you don't know. Strangers are neither good nor bad, but they are people you do not know. You should be careful around strangers who look suspicious or dangerous and try to avoid them by walking on the other side of the street. [21]
    • If a stranger approaches you and makes you feel uncomfortable, you should say “no,” and then run away from them. You should also yell loudly as you are running away. Then, find an adult and tell them what happened right away. This is called “No, Go, Yell, Tell.”
    • If you are far from home or are in danger, don't hesitate to phone emergency services right away.
  5. If you get lost on the way to school, find a teacher, firefighter or a police officer. Police officers and firefighters have distinctive uniforms. You should be able to recognize a teacher from your school. Make sure you know where the fire and police stations are located on your walk to school, so you can go for help.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What should I do if someone is following me home?
    Saul Jaeger, MS
    Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department
    Saul Jaeger is a Police Officer and Captain of the Mountain View, California Police Department (MVPD). Saul has over 17 years of experience as a patrol officer, field training officer, traffic officer, detective, hostage negotiator, and as the traffic unit’s sergeant and Public Information Officer for the MVPD. At the MVPD, in addition to commanding the Field Operations Division, Saul has also led the Communications Center (dispatch) and the Crisis Negotiation Team. He earned an MS in Emergency Services Management from the California State University, Long Beach in 2008 and a BS in Administration of Justice from the University of Phoenix in 2006. He also earned a Corporate Innovation LEAD Certificate from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 2018.
    Saul Jaeger, MS
    Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department
    Expert Answer
    Try to be as aware as you possibly can. Mentally note what the person looks like, what they're wearing, and when they started following you. Turn on your phone's camera if you can to help record the interaction. If you're sure you're being followed, call 911. If you're close to a police department or fire station, head there. People won't typically follow you into places like that.
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      Tips

      • Avoid clothes or bags with your name on the outside. Strangers can call you by your name in attempt pretend to know you. If you need to label clothes, do so on the inside where it is not visible.
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/safe_routes_to_school/
      2. ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Safety-On-The-Way-To-School.aspx
      3. ↑ http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/graduated_walking/children_age_four_to_six.cfm
      4. ↑ http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/graduated_walking/children_age_seven_to_nine.cfm
      5. ↑ http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/graduated_walking/children_age_ten_and_older.cfm
      6. ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Safety-On-The-Way-To-School.aspx
      7. ↑ http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/walking_school_bus/
      8. ↑ http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/graduated_walking/children_age_ten_and_older.cfm
      9. ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Safety-On-The-Way-To-School.aspx
      1. ↑ http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/graduated_walking/understanding_how_children_learn_pedestrian_safety_skills.cfm
      2. ↑ http://kidshealth.org/en/kids/street-smart.html
      3. ↑ http://kidshealth.org/en/kids/street-smart.html
      4. ↑ http://mightynest.com/learn/getting-started/waste-free-lunch-guides/best-water-bottles-for-kids-at-school
      5. ↑ http://mightynest.com/learn/getting-started/waste-free-lunch-guides/best-water-bottles-for-kids-at-school
      6. ↑ http://mightynest.com/learn/getting-started/waste-free-lunch-guides/best-water-bottles-for-kids-at-school
      7. ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Safety-On-The-Way-To-School.aspx
      8. ↑ http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/graduated_walking/understanding_how_children_learn_pedestrian_safety_skills.cfm
      9. ↑ http://www.cdc.gov/features/pedestriansafety/
      10. ↑ Saul Jaeger, MS. Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department. Expert Interview
      11. ↑ http://kidshealth.org/en/kids/street-smart.html
      12. ↑ Saul Jaeger, MS. Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department. Expert Interview
      13. ↑ Saul Jaeger, MS. Police Captain, Mountain View Police Department. Expert Interview

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