Traffic Safety Guardian

Little hedgehog Harry was always in a hurry. He would dart across roads without looking, chase his ball into the street, and never hold his mother's hand when they went for walks in Woodland Town.

"Harry, you must be careful on the roads," his mother would say. But Harry thought traffic safety rules were boring and unnecessary.

One rainy evening, Harry nearly ran into the path of Mr. Badger's bicycle while chasing a leaf. He slipped on the wet pavement and tumbled into a puddle instead.

"That was a close call!" said a bright voice.

Harry looked up to see a mouse wearing a shiny yellow vest and a helmet with a flashing light on top.

"Who are you?" Harry asked, shaking water from his quills.

"I'm Safeway Sam, the Traffic Safety Guardian!" the mouse announced proudly. "And you, my spiky friend, could use some help crossing roads safely."

Harry huffed. "I was doing fine until I slipped."

Sam shook his head. "Actually, you were about to dash right in front of Mr. Badger. Let me show you something."

Sam pulled out a magical stop sign that doubled as a screen. On it, Harry could see himself from earlier that day, rushing across roads without looking and ignoring the crossing signals.

"Oh," Harry said quietly, realizing how dangerous his actions had been.

"Would you like to learn how to be a Traffic Safety Guardian too?" Sam asked.

Harry nodded, suddenly interested.

"Excellent! First, you'll need your safety equipment." Sam tapped Harry's head with his stop sign, and instantly Harry was wearing a bright yellow vest and a small helmet of his own.

"Now, let me teach you the Road Safety Code," Sam said. "It's five simple rules that all Safety Guardians follow."

**Rule 1: Stop, Look, and Listen**

Sam took Harry to a quiet intersection. "Before crossing any road, you must STOP at the edge, LOOK in all directions for traffic, and LISTEN for vehicles you might not see."

They practiced together, with Harry freezing at the road's edge, turning his head both ways, and cupping his ears to listen carefully.

**Rule 2: Use Crossings Whenever Possible**

Next, Sam showed Harry the different types of crossings – zebra crossings with their black and white stripes, and traffic light crossings with their colored signals.

"Red means stop, green means go, but always check that vehicles have actually stopped before you cross," Sam explained.

**Rule 3: Be Bright and Be Seen**

"Your yellow vest helps drivers see you," Sam said, "especially when it's dark or rainy. Always wear bright colors when walking near roads."

Harry admired his reflective vest, noticing how it glowed when light hit it.

**Rule 4: Always Hold Hands**

"Small animals should always hold an adult's hand near roads," Sam insisted. "It keeps you safe and helps you learn good habits."

Harry remembered how often he had pulled away from his mother's paw.

**Rule 5: Never Play Near Roads**

"Roads are for traveling, not for playing," Sam said firmly. "Always play in safe areas away from traffic."

Harry thought about his ball that had rolled into the street so many times.

After learning all the rules, Sam gave Harry a special challenge: to guide his mother safely through Woodland Town using everything he had learned.

The next day, Harry surprised his mother by wearing his safety vest (which had magically stayed with him) and asking to hold her hand.

"I'm a Traffic Safety Guardian now," he explained proudly. "I know how to keep us safe."

As they walked, Harry pointed out the safest places to cross, reminded his mother to stop, look, and listen, and stayed well away from the curb. His mother couldn't believe the change!

When they reached the park safely, Harry spotted Sam watching from a tree branch. The little mouse winked and gave him a thumbs-up.

From that day on, Harry became famous in Woodland Town for his excellent traffic safety habits. He even started a Safety Guardian Club for his friends, teaching them all the rules Sam had taught him.

And whenever anyone asked where he learned so much about road safety, Harry would simply smile and say, "From a very wise mouse who showed me that safety rules aren't boring – they're lifesaving."

Traffic Safety Tips: 1. Always stop, look, and listen before crossing any road 2. Use pedestrian crossings whenever they're available 3. Wear bright or reflective clothing to be easily seen, especially at night 4. Young children should always hold an adult's hand near roads 5. Never play near traffic – choose safe areas away from roads