In a Hangzhou residential compound, a girl walked alone in the center of a road at night while her parent observed nearby but did not guide her to the sidewalk—even after multiple car horns.

Social Context

Pedestrian safety education in China emphasizes ‘red light stop, green light go’ but underemphasizes roadway positioning—especially for children. The 2023 National Road Safety Action Plan urges community-level ‘safe walking zones’, yet implementation lags in older neighborhoods lacking curb extensions or pedestrian islands.

Safety Tip

Teach children the ‘three-step rule’: stop at curb edge, scan left-right-left, then walk briskly along building-side paths—not road centers.