If you grew up in the UK in the late 1990s or 2000s, there’s a good chance you can still hum the THINK! hedgehogs’ song. The Department for Transport’s cartoon hedgehog family taught a whole generation to “Stop, Look, Listen, Live”, and somehow it stuck.
And those campaigns really work. THINK! says its road safety campaigns have helped cut child road deaths by 90% since records began in 1979.
Mid-November is a good moment for a refresher. It’s around Road Safety Week, and Sunday 15 November is the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. The evenings are also darker now, and school runs and after-school clubs often mean walking home in the dark.
Why road safety matters for children in foster care
Children who come to live with foster carers have often had a lot of change. They might be new to the area, starting a new school or walking routes they’ve never used before. Some may have missed out on road safety lessons because of moves or gaps in schooling.
So it’s worth never assuming. Even confident older children can benefit from a calm, no-judgement walk-through of the roads near their new home.
A quick Green Cross Code refresher
- Think first. Find the safest place to cross, such as a zebra or pelican crossing, a footbridge or a lollipop person.
- Stand on the pavement, a little way back from the kerb.
- Look and listen. Check all around for traffic, including bikes and quiet electric cars.
- Wait until there’s nothing coming, or traffic has fully stopped.
- Keep looking and listening as you cross, and walk, don’t run.
Tips by age
Little ones (under 7)
- Hold hands near roads, every time
- Walk on the side of the pavement away from the traffic
- Make a game of spotting the safe places to cross
- Talk out loud as you cross, so they learn what you’re thinking
Primary-age children
- Practise the walk to school together before they do any of it alone
- Point out tricky spots like driveways, parked cars and junctions
- Remind them that drivers can’t always see them, especially small people between parked cars
Teenagers
- Phones away and one earbud out (or none) when crossing
- Lights and a helmet on bikes and scooters, and bright or reflective clothing in the dark
- Talk about being a passenger: seatbelts every time, and it’s always OK to say no to a lift from a driver they don’t feel safe with
In the car
- In the UK, children usually need a child car seat until they’re 12 years old or 135cm tall, whichever comes first
- Make sure the seat suits the child’s height and weight, which matters when a new child arrives at short notice
- Seatbelts on for every journey, however short
Be seen in the dark
- Bright or reflective clothes, bag tags or armbands
- Front and rear lights on bikes
- A small torch in a school bag for winter walks home
THINK! has lots of free resources and videos for parents and carers on its website, think.gov.uk. Why not watch the hedgehogs together? You might find yourself singing along!
Keeping children safe, every day
Banya is an independent fostering agency supporting foster carers in London and across England. Our carers get ongoing training and their own supervising social worker, so they’re never on their own with the everyday stuff, from road safety to school runs. Thinking about fostering? Get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Green Cross Code?
The Green Cross Code is the UK’s simple guide to crossing the road safely: find the safest place to cross, stop at the kerb, look and listen for traffic, wait until it’s safe, then keep looking and listening as you cross.
When is Road Safety Week 2026?
oad Safety Week 2026 runs from 15 to 21 November. It’s organised by the road safety charity Brake, and this year’s theme is “Safe People on the Move”.
At what age can a child cross the road on their own?
There’s no legal age. It depends on the child, how busy the roads are and how much practice they’ve had. Younger children often find it hard to judge how fast traffic is moving, so practise together until you’re confident they’re ready.
Can children ride e-scooters in the UK?
Privately owned e-scooters can’t legally be ridden on public roads, pavements, cycle lanes or in parks. They can only be used on private land with the landowner’s permission. Rental e-scooters in trial areas need a driving licence, so children can’t use those either.
When can a child sit in the front seat of a car?
There’s no minimum age in law, but children still need the right car seat for their height and weight. A rear-facing baby seat must never go in front of an active airbag, and most experts advise that children are safest in the back.
Do I need to drive to be a foster carer?
Not necessarily. Driving can make school runs, appointments and family time easier, but it isn’t always essential, especially in areas with good public transport. Talk to the fostering agency about your situation.
