Helping children stay safe in the dark

As the darker winter months draw in, keeping children visible on their journeys to and from school becomes more important than ever. Last week, every child at St Andrew's received a reflector keyring, as part of a safety initiative led by one of our Deputy Head's and Year 8 pupils.

Inspired from time spent living in Sweden, reflective tags, clips and keyrings are a way of life, and children routinely attach them to their coats or bags to ensure that drivers can spot them clearly during the country’s long periods of winter darkness.

Wanting to bring this culture of safety into St Andrew’s, our Year 8 led the idea from concept to creation, designing reflective keyrings and organising their production. Thanks to his initiative, and the enthusiasm of his peers, every child in our school community now has a reflector to help keep them safe.

Why reflectors matter: helping drivers see children sooner

Road safety data shows just how critical visibility is. In low light or poor weather, a pedestrian may only be visible to a driver from around 50 metres - not much distance for a car to react, especially in busy areas. However, when wearing a reflector, that visibility distance increases to approximately 350 metres, allowing motorists far more time to slow down, adjust their driving and pass safely.

Highway Code guidance also encourages pedestrians to wear something bright or reflective when walking near roads at dusk or after dark, meaning the new reflectors can be used out of school hours too:

Supporting the initiative, Head Master, Ed Graham, said:

“I am delighted by this pupil-led project. Their leadership and care for one another reflect the values at the heart of St Andrew's.”

Other helpful tips to keep children visible and safe this winter

Alongside reflector keyrings, there are several other ways families can help boost children’s visibility in the darker months:

1. Attach reflectors in the right place

For maximum impact, reflectors should be attached to areas that move - such as coat zips, school bag loops or elastic toggles. Movement helps catch a driver’s attention more quickly.

2. Pair reflectors with bright clothing

Lighter-coloured coats, hats and bags help children stand out. Even a bright scarf or hat can increase visibility.

3. Check reflective surfaces on coats and bags

Many winter coats already include reflective strips. Make sure these aren’t covered by long hair, scarves or backpack straps.

4. Encourage walking on well-lit routes

Choose pavements and footpaths with good lighting wherever possible. Reflectors help, but shouldn’t replace good route planning.

5. Consider additional reflective accessories

Reflective slap bands, stickers and bike reflectors are inexpensive and can make a huge difference.

6. Talk about road safety regularly

Use the winter months as an opportunity to discuss safe crossing points, stopping to look and listen, and avoiding distractions such as headphones or screens.

You can hear more from the Year 8 pupil that spear-headed the initiative, and others who supported it, in our short film below: