Road Safety
Lesson duration is: 25 minIntroduction
Instructions
Items in this lesson
Students evaluate key hazard identification techniques and practical decision-making required for navigating modern traffic safely. Direct tasks challenge learners to spot risks, interpret signs, and manage personal safety near roads.
How do you stay safe on the roads to and from school?
Captures daily commuting habits to draw out existing knowledge of practical pedestrian safety measures and hazard avoidance.
Stretch: Challenge students to identify the most frequently mentioned safety measure and explain how seasonal changes, like darker winter afternoons, alter its effectiveness.
Device-Free: Direct students to list three commute safety strategies on mini-whiteboards and swap with a partner to compare their daily routines.
Introduction
Young drivers are have a much higher chance or having an accident than more experienced ones. Sadly, pedestrians (people on the roadside not driving) and people who use alternative transport, such as a bicycles, are always at risk from road traffic. This lesson will explore some safety advice for new drivers, pedestrians and cyclists alike.
Establishes the foundational context of road safety by identifying the heightened statistical risks faced by young drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Stretch: Challenge students to identify three specific factors that contribute to the higher accident rates among newly qualified drivers.
Device-Free: Direct students to read the text on screen and summarise the main hazard facing their chosen mode of transport on a mini-whiteboard in exactly five words.
Let's see if your teacher remembers this blast from the past...
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Note: Uses the classic 1998 THINK! hedgehog media campaign to evaluate how memorable jingles and relatable characters effectively communicate core pedestrian safety rules ("Stop, Look, Listen, Live").
Stretch: Challenge students to analyze how public safety messaging has evolved from 1990s broadcast television ads to modern digital campaigns, comparing their relative impact on young audiences.
Device-Free: Direct pairs to draft a four-line road safety slogan on a mini-whiteboard incorporating the 'Stop, Look, Listen' rule and present their rhyme to the class.
How did you like the Hedgehog song?
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It probably seems very childish to you, maybe even caused you to cringe a bit..
But that's because road safety is a very unique lesson.
It's something we learn from a young age, where the risks and importance don't change. If you are someone who skips the guidelines you learned as a kid - then you're putting yourself, other pedestrians and drivers at risk.
To make sure we've all got it, let's have one more look at some advice from someone you should all remember...
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Evaluates how early-years media messaging delivers fundamental safety principles to younger demographics and prompts comparison with campaigns targeted at secondary students.
Stretch: Challenge students to analyse why simplistic safety messaging aimed at young children fails to address the complex hazard perception skills required by independent teenage pedestrians and young drivers.
Device-Free: Direct pairs to note two contrast points between early-years safety messaging and adolescent hazard awareness on a mini-whiteboard before sharing with the class.
The Facts
In the UK, thousands of children are killed or injured on roads near schools each year, with approximately 9 children aged seven and under harmed daily, and 1,190 children injured within 500 meters of a school monthly. Most child casualties occur during the school run, between 8:00–9:00 and 15:00–16:00, as independence increases with age.
What could we do to ensure we stay
alert near the roads at our school?
Outlines practical safety strategies to maintain situational awareness and eliminate personal distractions near busy school gates.
Stretch: Challenge students to analyze how specific distractions, such as mobile phones or wearing headphones, slow down pedestrian reaction times in high-traffic zones.
Device-Free: Direct pairs to list three common road distractions on mini-whiteboards and rank them by risk level before sharing with the class.
New Drivers
Build experience gradually on familiar roads
Avoid distractions and minimise passengers
Only drive when rested and sober
Don't be afraid to ask for help
Ignore peer pressure - whatever happens, or why, if you are driving - it's your responsibility
Highlights practical hazard-mitigation strategies tailored to reduce collision risks for novice motorists during their first year on the road.
Stretch: Challenge students to evaluate which driving guideline is hardest for new drivers to maintain and explain how environmental conditions like night driving escalate risk.
Device-Free: Direct pairs to write their top safety recommendation for novice drivers on a mini-whiteboard and defend their choice to a neighbouring pair.
To and From School
Use the green cross code
Cross at safe places like pedestrian crossings or traffic islands
Be visible - it might not be cool, but being visible reduces your chances of getting hurt
Avoid distractions keep your phone away, and remove headphones when checking a crossing
Walk straight across - lingering in the road is risky!
Contextualises core pedestrian safety principles by establishing key habits for navigating high-risk road crossings.
Stretch: Challenge students to evaluate which of these five safety rules is most frequently ignored by secondary students and propose a strategy to counter that behaviour.
Device-Free: Direct pairs to sketch simple icons for each of the five safety rules on a mini-whiteboard and present them to a neighbouring pair.
This video is designed for a KS3+ audience - feel free to add a video resource suitable for your class and delete this one!
To stay safe as a passenger in any vehicle, always wear your seatbelt, avoid distracting the driver by limiting noise and questions, support the driver by helping with navigation, and speak up calmly if you see an emerging danger, especially when concerned about the driver's behaviour or a potential issue. Never get in a car with someone you don’t know and trust.
If you are in a car with someone, and feel unsafe for any reason, you absolutely have the right to ask them to slow down, or remind them to pay attention. If the person you are with refuses to change their actions - ask them to stop somewhere appropriate and call someone to come and collect you. In this situation, you have done nothing wrong.
Being a good passenger
Secures understanding of in-car safety by tasking learners with completing statements about responsible passenger conduct and distraction reduction.
Stretch: Challenge students to analyse a scenario where peer pressure encourages unsafe passenger behaviour and suggest a specific strategy to defuse the situation.
Device-Free: Direct pairs to write the missing vocabulary on their mini-whiteboards and hold them up simultaneously to check class accuracy.
This video is clearly aimed at a KS5+ audience, feel free to add a video of your own and remove this one to suit your class!
Cycling to School
Follow the highway code
Wear a helmet
Use lights if it's dark
Be predictable
If you're not sure if a driver or pedestrian has seen you - always assume they haven't
Did we miss anything?
Outlines essential cycling safety rules and road positioning guidelines required for navigating busy traffic routes on two wheels.
Stretch: Challenge students to evaluate how poor weather conditions, such as heavy rain or ice, alter safe stopping distances and bicycle control for young cyclists.
Device-Free: Direct pairs to list three essential pieces of cycle safety gear on a mini-whiteboard and rank them by importance before sharing with the class.
This video is designed for students KS3+ - feel free to change this video to the level of your students.
What is the safest way to cross the road?
Cross at any point
Look both ways before crossing
Only follow others crossing
Run across quickly
Tests immediate retention of essential traffic safety rules while highlighting common misconceptions around pedestrian and cycling precautions.
Stretch: Challenge students to explain why specific incorrect choices might seem plausible to a distracted pedestrian or novice cyclist.
Device-Free: Direct students to write their selected option letter on mini-whiteboards and raise them simultaneously for a quick visual assessment.
What does a red traffic light mean?
Turn left immediately
Proceed if safe
Slow down and continue
Stop and wait at the line
Tests immediate retention of essential traffic safety rules while highlighting common misconceptions around pedestrian and cycling precautions.
Stretch: Challenge students to explain why specific incorrect choices might seem plausible to a distracted pedestrian or novice cyclist.
Device-Free: Direct students to write their selected option letter on mini-whiteboards and raise them simultaneously for a quick visual assessment.
When should you wear a seatbelt?
Always when in a vehicle
Only if the law requires
Only on long journeys
In the front seat only
Tests immediate retention of essential traffic safety rules while highlighting common misconceptions around pedestrian and cycling precautions.
Stretch: Challenge students to explain why specific incorrect choices might seem plausible to a distracted pedestrian or novice cyclist.
Device-Free: Direct students to write their selected option letter on mini-whiteboards and raise them simultaneously for a quick visual assessment.
What is the speed limit in built-up areas?
30 mph unless otherwise stated
20 mph always
40 mph usually
50 mph in all areas
Tests immediate retention of essential traffic safety rules while highlighting common misconceptions around pedestrian and cycling precautions.
Stretch: Challenge students to explain why specific incorrect choices might seem plausible to a distracted pedestrian or novice cyclist.
Device-Free: Direct students to write their selected option letter on mini-whiteboards and raise them simultaneously for a quick visual assessment.
What should you do at a zebra crossing?
Stop and wait for pedestrians
Cross without looking
Ignore pedestrians
Speed up to cross quickly
Tests immediate retention of essential traffic safety rules while highlighting common misconceptions around pedestrian and cycling precautions.
Stretch: Challenge students to explain why specific incorrect choices might seem plausible to a distracted pedestrian or novice cyclist.
Device-Free: Direct students to write their selected option letter on mini-whiteboards and raise them simultaneously for a quick visual assessment.
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