Jaywalking facts for kids
Jaywalking is when a person crosses a street without following traffic rules. It often means crossing a main road outside of a special crosswalk or intersection. In many places, doing this is against the law. It's important to know that jaywalking can be very dangerous.
Staying Safe on Roads
Crossing the street safely is super important. When you jaywalk, you put yourself at risk. It's always best to use designated crosswalks and follow traffic signals. This helps keep you safe from cars and other vehicles.
Why Jaywalking is Risky
Jaywalking can be risky because drivers might not expect you to cross where you are. They might not see you in time to stop. This is why traffic rules are in place – to help everyone stay safe on the road.
Factors That Affect Safety
Many things can make jaywalking more or less dangerous. It's important to think about these factors before you ever consider crossing outside a crosswalk:
- Paying Attention: Are you fully focused on the road? It's easy to get distracted by your phone or friends.
- Seeing Clearly: Can you see far down the road in both directions? Are there any blind spots?
- Being Seen: Are you easy for drivers to spot? Wearing bright clothes, especially at night, can help.
- Hidden Traffic: Are you near a corner or hill where cars might suddenly appear?
- Number of Lanes: How many lanes of traffic do you need to cross? More lanes mean more chances for danger.
- Speed Limit: How fast are cars allowed to go on that road? Faster cars need more time to stop.
- Road Conditions: Is the road wet, icy, or slippery? This makes it harder for cars to brake quickly.
- Traffic Volume: Are there many cars on the road, or is it quiet? More cars mean more risk.
- Traffic Speed: How fast are the cars actually going? Even if the speed limit is low, cars might be going faster.
- Crossing Gaps: If there's a break in traffic, is it big enough for you to cross safely and quickly?
Always remember, your safety comes first. Using crosswalks and following traffic lights are the best ways to cross the street.
Images for kids
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Sign prohibiting jaywalking in Singapore's Orchard Road
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An anti-jaywalking poster created in 1937 as part of the United States WPA's Federal Art Project
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Jaywalkers cross a congested street in Midtown Manhattan, 1973
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Fences, like here in Beijing, deter jaywalkers from crossing the road.
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Pedestrian prohibition in Luxembourg
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Panneau d'interdiction d'accès aux piétons en France near the A406 motorway. Notice the fence, that motorists must cross to safety in case of breakdown.
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Pedestrians in Barcelona jaywalking with red light
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A pedestrian in Toronto walks across a street, several metres (yards) away from a pedestrian crosswalk
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