Road safety education for primary school children

Resources to help primary school children stay safe on our roads.

Teaching children road safety in an age-appropriate way is so important for their development. This helps shape their attitude to road safety and how they behave as they grow and progress through the various stages of being a road user. We offer a range of resources which tailor road safety messages to help engage primary schools and primary school children (age 5-12).

Cycle Right

Cycle training programme

Cycle Right is run through a schools programme and also directly through these  approved training providers. Cycle Right can be contacted using this online form.

The Cycle Right programme is delivered over three stages. As they progress, every child gains the skills and knowledge to help them cycle safely on our roads.

1. Stage One (8 hours) is based at an off-road location, e.g. a school or similar. Children get practical bicycle and road skills training as well as theoretical and Rules of the Road instruction. 
2. Stage Two (3 hours) allows children take a more active role in making safer cycling decisions under the active assistance of an instructor. 
3. Stage Three (3 hours) lets adults take the lead role on a cycle journey, i.e., planning the route, deciding on road positioning and interacting with traffic. The instructor takes an accompanying role, assessing and giving feedback.

The programme is produced and supported by the Department of Transport, the Road Safety Authority and Cycling Ireland with input from central and local agencies, and other groups. 

Cycle Right

The national standard for cycle training that provides practical cycle safety and skills training to help primary school children become better and more confident cyclists.

Visit Cycle Right

StreetSmart

For children aged 4 to 12 years

StreetSmart brings road safety to life in a fun way for young children. Using a pretend streetscape mat and props, children are invited to carry out everyday road safety tasks and this is coordinated by our Road Safety Education team.

With StreetSmart children learn from their own experiences and those of their classmates through a series of activities such as:

• role playing and dress-up
• storytelling
• road safety games
• interactive road safety Q&A game.

StreetSmart is designed for three distinct age groups: 4-5, 5-8 and 8-12 years, with a combination of interactive activities suitable for each age group.

Book or get more information on StreetSmart for your school or group

The streetscape mat can be set up in your school or community hall but we will need to discuss space, size and other requirements before final booking. 

Our staff will facilitate activities and work with teachers or group leaders beforehand to decide suitable road safety lessons for participating children. 

StreetSmart is free of charge and great fun for everyone

If you’re interested in getting our StreetSmart resource for your school or community group, please click on the button below.

Request a StreetSmart visit

Be Safe!

For children aged 5 to 12 years

Be Safe! is designed to promote safety among primary school children focusing on the key messages of road, fire and water safety. The road safety section covers:

• walking
• cycling  
• public transport. 

We have a resource pack that is full of activities and learning modules for different primary school age groups. Each module builds on previous lessons to help children become more safety aware and more responsible citizens. 

The pack was developed as part of the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) module ‘Myself’, which addresses safety and protection, personal safety, safety issues and making decisions. 

Seatbelt Sheriff and Hi-Glo Silver

Seatbelt Sheriff

Our Seatbelt Sheriff educates children about how to be safe road users.  He reminds children to always wear their safety belt (buckle up) in any vehicle in which they are travelling.

Our Seatbelt Sheriff website has a series of videos where all these road safety messages are available!

Hi-Glo Silver

Hi-Glo Silver helps Seatbelt Sheriff with his road safety duties. This special horse encourages children and parents to always wear high-visibility jackets or belts when out playing, walking, riding their ponies or cycling.

Safe Cross Code

For third class

Our Safe Cross Code programme is aimed at children in third class. It focuses on the six steps every child should remember to safely cross any road. To help them remember these safety steps, we have a catchy song and special dance to learn, a fun game to play and some famous TV ads to watch.

Road Safety Getting to school safely

Advice on keeping children safe at the school gate, going to school and hiring a bus. Checklists and leaflets.

Learn more