Research suggests that young children are dependent upon adults for their safety. They do not have the understanding nor ability to behave safely in the road traffic environment without adult assistance. Adults can take responsibility for children in the complex road traffic environment in two ways: one is through protection and the other is through road safety education. This paper reviews ways in which the Early Childhood Road Safety Education Program (ECRSEP) encourages adults to do both. The first five years of life in Australian culture are characterised by increasing striving by the child towards independence. This leads many adults to overestimate the abilities of young children. Working in close partnership with children's services, ECRSEP aims to increase adult understanding of the developmental characteristics of young children that place them at risk of death and serious injury. Reducing causalities involves increasing community awareness of protective practices that are the most effective for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and for those in the early school years. Adult responsibility encompasses the safety of young children as passengers, pedestrians and at play. ECRSEP works closely with children's services to help them plan and implement road safety education programs in partnership with their families and their local communities.
This paper highlights the crucial role of early childhood educators in helping families keep their children safe in the road traffic environment. The authors share practical road safety education strategies for families and those that support them that are effective with young children. Strategies include ways to integrate road safety education, through joint planning and programming, within the daily lives of children….. both in the children's service and when they are out and about with their families.

(modified author abstract LC)