Parachute Safe Kids Week is an annual awareness campaign designed to bring attention to predictable and preventable injuries in children. Parachute celebrates Safe Kids Week from June 1 to June 7, 2026, this year with the theme of #SafeSpeedsForKids.
Children are vulnerable road users
- Transport incidents are the leading cause of injury-related death and the third-leading cause of injury hospitalizations and emergency department visits in children from birth to age 14.
- Every year in Canada, we see an average of 6,700 injuries and 46 deaths to children on our roads.
Walking and cycling are healthy for children, but there are risks
Walking and cycling are key ways for children to explore their environment and develop independence. Unfortunately, these healthy activities expose children to injury or death if they are hit by motor vehicle drivers.
- Most child pedestrian injuries and deaths occur in urban areas. When a pedestrian is hit on a rural road, however, the result is more likely to be fatal because of higher vehicle speeds, lack of proper pedestrian walkways and larger distance to a trauma centre.
- Most child pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and deaths occur during the after-school hours between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
- June has the highest number of child bicyclist injuries and deaths. Generally, these injuries happen in spring and summer when children are riding most often.
Lower speeds help keep kids safe on their travels
- Children are twice as likely to be struck by a car in areas with speed limits higher than 50 km/h, compared to limits under 50 km/h.
- Even small reductions in speed can be significant in preventing crashes and reducing the severity of injuries. For each 1.6 km/h reduction in average speed, collisions are reduced by five per cent.
- A pedestrian struck by a car traveling at 50 km/h is almost six times more likely to be killed than a pedestrian struck at 30 km/h. The risk may be even higher for children.
We can create #SafeSpeedsForKids
There are many proven measures that we can advocate for to reduce speeds and make safer roads for children and all road users. These strategies work best when used together in a combined approach.
Reduce speed limits.
Reducing vehicle speed has been proven to be effective in reducing the severity of injuries for pedestrians and cyclists in a collision with a motor vehicle. In urban areas where people walk, bike, live and play, a speed limit of 30 km/h should be established. At a speed of 30 km/h, pedestrians and cyclists also have a higher chance of survival because drivers have sufficient time to stop to avoid a collision.
Design roads to reduce speed.
Traffic calming measures such as speed humps, raised pedestrian crossings, roundabouts and road narrowing help slow drivers down. Speed humps can reduce by up to 43 per cent the number of crashes where drivers hit child pedestrians from birth to 15 years old. The tight design of a roundabout helps slow drivers, reducing severe intersection crashes.
Enforce safer speeds.
Automated speed enforcement, or safe speed cameras, is a proven, cost-effective way of slowing down drivers. These tools have been shown to reduce speeding in school zones by 45 per cent and to have the biggest effect on the drivers going at the highest speeds (15 km/h or more over the speed limit).
Read more about proven road safety measures.
Other ways to help keep kids safe
Everyone has a role to play in keeping kids safe on our roads. Creating safer roads for kids means slowing down, staying alert, and being especially cautious in places where children live, learn and play.
As a driver:
- Reduce your speed. Driving at lower speeds prevents crashes. If crashes happened at lower speeds, people involved are less likely to be severely injured or killed.
- Keep your distance. Ensure you give cyclists and other road users space on the road. When parking on the street, always check for cyclists before opening your door.
- Be alert. Manage distractions before getting on the road. Be patient and expect kids to be kids. Be alert for child pedestrians and cyclists darting between cars or moving suddenly onto the road.
- Drive sober. If you are planning to drink alcohol or use drugs, don’t drive.
As a parent/caregiver:
- Plan and use safe routes, where possible. When walking or wheeling, you and your kids are safest away from motor vehicle traffic. Use sidewalks, paths and bicycle lanes when these are available.
- Travel with your younger children. Young children can navigate simple street structure. The skills to navigate more complex environments develop around the ages of nine to 11. While your children are developing skills, walk with your children and talk to them about pedestrian safety.
- Teach your child where and how to cross streets safely. Practise with them looking and listening for oncoming traffic, crossing once cars have come to a full stop, and crossing at corners or marked crossings. Learn more about pedestrian safety.
- Check your ride. Ensure your child’s bike is adjusted correctly for their height. Have them do a bike check before riding to ensure tires are inflated and brakes are working properly.
- Consider your child’s skills before riding on the road. Help your child build the physical and thinking skills they need to ride safely on the road. Learn more about cycling safety
- Choose the right car seat or booster seat for your child and make sure it’s used properly for every single ride. When travelling by car, children are less likely to be severely injured when the right car seat, booster seat or seat belt is used on every ride. Learn more about child passenger safety
Avoid e-scooters for children under 16 years old. E-scooters are dangerous for children because they go fast, need physical strength to control, and need emotional and thinking abilities to ride and make decisions. Children can develop their skills by riding a bicycle or using a non-electric kick scooter. Learn more about e-scooters
Key activity: Snap for Change
Through our key Safe Kids Week activity, Snap for Change, Parachute invites people of all ages across Canada to share their voices and advocate for road safety measures in their communities. Together, we can make roads safer for kids.
Is there an area in your neighbourhood that feels unsafe for kids to walk, bike or scooter? Maybe it’s an intersection with poor visibility or a street without sidewalks and pedestrian crossings, or an area where the speed limit is higher than 30 km/h.
Share your voice with us by joining the Snap for Change initiative! Take a picture of the problem area, tell us what you think would make this area safer, and receive a $100 gift card for your submission. Your voice matters and together we can make our roads safe for children.