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Cycle safety for children

Cycling is a fun and healthy way for your child to get around, but there are dangers to be aware of. By setting a good example and making sure your child is trained and has the right clothing and equipment, you can help keep them safe.

Keep talking and set a good example to your child

The best way to help your child learn about road safety is to always set a good example yourself. When you’re cycling with your child you should:

  • wear a cycle helmet yourself
  • obey traffic signs, be considerate of other road users and not let yourself be distracted by using a mobile phone or listening to music
  • encourage them to notice and discuss what they see around them on the road
  • make sure they know that when they’re on the road they need to concentrate and watch out for other road users all the time
  • encourage them to take their own decisions - they shouldn’t blindly follow what others are doing without making their own checks first
  • practice judging speed and distance with them
  • help them work out the safest routes for the journeys they make

Cycle training for your child

You can help your child enjoy cycling safely by educating them about road safety issues and encourage them to undertake training whilst at primary school through the Cycling Proficiency Scheme.

Cycling Proficiency Scheme

The Cycling Proficiency Scheme is an initiative of the Department of Environment Road Safety Education Officer Service. Each year thousands of primary school children in Northern Ireland receive training and are tested.

The Road Safety Education Officer Service provides the teachers/schools with all the training and resources necessary to allow them to run the scheme with their P6/7 pupils. In some circumstances P5’s can take the training but must be nine years old to be tested. Each child who is trained and reaches the required standard on the day of the test, receives a certificate and badge in recognition of their achievement.

For general advice and information about cycling safely:

Wearing the right clothing

Other road users must be able to see cyclists. There are items of clothing and equipment your child can use to help them keep safe:

  • get your child to wear fluorescent or light coloured clothing if they are riding during the day or in poor light
  • after dark, children should wear reflective clothing, as fluorescent or light coloured clothing will not be visible

Protective helmets

On average half of the road injuries received by cyclists are to the face and the head. Make sure your child always wears a correctly fitted helmet to protect against head injuries should they fall. It should be worn correctly, which means it:

  • is positioned squarely on their head, sitting just above the eyebrows and not tilted back or tipped forwards
  • must be a snug fit
  • should not stop them seeing clearly or cover their ears
  • has its straps securely fastened and not twisted, with only enough room for two fingers between their chin and the strap

Getting your child's bike ready

Make sure your child's bike is the right size and well maintained:

  • it's an offence to ride at night without a front white light, back red light and back red reflector
  • remind your child that if they have a dynamo on their bike the lights will go out when they stop
  • mark the bicycle frame with your postcode
  • remind your child to always use a cycle lock, and to use a cycle rack to park their bike

The rules of the road

When your child is out and about, you should encourage them to follow the basic rules of the road:

  • look behind before they turn, overtake or stop
  • use arm signals before they turn
  • obey traffic lights and road signs
  • do not ride on the pavement unless there is a sign saying they can
  • do not cycle next to another person on a narrow road
  • watch out for car doors opening suddenly when passing parked cars

Cycling advice for teenagers

The advice above applies just as much, or even more to teenagers, as they are more likely to be cycling on main roads. They are also the age group most unlikely to wear helmets and more likely to be using mobile phones or listening to music through headphones. Remind them to always pay attention and not get distracted, and to not show off to those around them.

Getting trained and looking after their bike is vital if they are to be safer on the road.

Getting to school safely

Read information on the Highway Code for cyclists and cycling to school on the links below.

More useful links

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