Each year pedestrians and cyclists are killed or injured on or near the road. The Green Cross Code was launched in 1970 as a simple, memorable way to raise awareness of road safety using 'Stop, Look, Listen'. 

Since 1970 the number of vehicles on the roads in the UK has grown so it's even more important to teach children and young people about road safety so they can stay safe.

1. Think

Find a safe place to cross the road such as a pedestrian crossing, an underpass or a footbridge.

2. Stop

Just before you get to the kerb, stop.

Stand on the pavement near the kerb and make sure that you can see the traffic. DO NOT step on to the road.

3. Look

Look all around you for traffic. Make sure that you listen carefully for traffic that you can’t see.

Check to your right hand side first, then check to your left and then to your right again before you cross.

Beware that some roads, called one way streets, have all of the traffic moving in the same direction.

Watch out for bicycles or people on e-scooters. You often don’t hear them but they travel very fast.

4. Wait

If traffic is coming, let it pass.

If you are waiting at a crossing then wait until the cars have stopped or, at pelican, toucan, puffin or pegasus crossings, the green man shows, before you cross.

If you are not at a crossing wait until it is safe to cross.

Once the traffic has passed look around again and listen.

5. Look and listen again

When it is safe and there is no traffic, walk straight across the road.

Keep looking and listening while you cross the road. Watch out for cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders. 

Always walk straight across the road, don't walk diagonally. Never run across the road in case you fall over and you might not get up in time.

6. Arrive alive

Look and keep looking while you cross the road.