Parents and caregivers should be active participants in developing children's road safety skills. Parents and caregivers should have a clear understanding of children's developmental ability as pedestrians and passengers. Safety preparedness programs are more likely to be effective when parents are involved. Creating a parental role within road safety education is helpful to the student's internalization of the information and positive road safety behavior. Parental involvement may also influence parents to become better role models for road safety (e.g. wearing a seat belt, not speeding, refraining from reckless driving).
A clear improvement in the recognition of how to cope with the dangers of crossing the street occurs around the age of seven and eight. Children younger than this should be accompanied by an adult when crossing the street.
Practical experience is necessary to enable pedestrian skills to develop. A time lag may exist between experience and skills development.