At the end of my tether with DD3

[RosaLuxembourg]

She is nearly six. Today, we were coming out of ballet class, when she just took off and ran across the road without looking. This is not the first time she has done this, the last time was at least six months ago though and I thought she had learned to be more sensible.
I told her off, explained what could have happened and didn't allow her the time on Club Penguin that I had promised her today.
She was very upset with me, but can't see that she did anything wrong - she insisted that she looked and is big enough to cross the road by herself. I pointed out that even DD2, who is 8, does not cross the road alone.
I am terrified she is going to get killed. She is very bright, apparently extremely well-behaved in class, to the extent that her teacher told us at a recent parents' evening that her behaviour was the model that other children copied. However she is extremely daring physically, and doesn't seem to see danger. Likes jumping off high walls and that sort of thing.
I am tempted to tell her I will put her on reins if she can't behave sensibly near roads. Any thoughts guys? DD1 and DD2 were never like this and I am flummoxed.

All I can think of is that you take her out by herself and practise crossing the road (over and over again)-finding safe places, looking the whole time etc. Also stress the way not to do it, without looking, between parked cars etc.Does she go anywhere like Rainbows? If so you could suggest to the leader that they do road safety. When I was a Beaver Leader we used do it with a pretend road, crossing etc and Beavers pretending to be cars.We also had a visit to 'Safety Street' which was good.

You are quite right Abbey, I have done this with all my children but the thing is that we walk all over the place and cross busy roads every day. I have done the road safety thing over and over again - it seems to make no difference. I will suggest that we do it at Rainbows however, as I help out there, and coming from someone else it might get through better. But tbh, I don't know if it will help, she is just SO wilful and doesn't seem to have a sense of danger at all. Does anyone else have children like this, or is it just her?

Is it only me that has this problem then? Do people think I should be worried that I have a nearly six-year-old who will run across a road without looking?

Rosa, yes, of course you are worried, I would be too! sorry no more advice to offer, but wanted to respond.
When you are out with her, would it be possible to make her hold your hand, or hold onto something attached to you, all the time, until you are sure she has taken it in and won't run out again?

Thanks Lucifera. I do hold her hand near roads. On this occasion, we were just walking out of the building and were nowhere near the road when she took off like a bullet out of a gun.
The thing is, the last time she did it was six months ago so I thought she had grown out of it and had relaxed my guard a bit.

Yes I would be worried, they can't usually judge speed of cars etc until around the age of 10. Perhaps you need to remind her every day about the crossing road rule and have very strict consequences if she does it again.

Please lay down the law on this one. My ds1 (7) witnessed a horrible accident on Sat where an 11yo girl got off the bus (he was on with dh), crossed the road in front of the bus and was run over by the car overtaking the bus at the time. She was thrown at least 20 feet by the impact and landed on her head. Dh was 1st medic on the scene and is still replaying it in his head. I don't think road safety can be reinforced enough as it doesn't take much to turn the head of even the most sensible child.

That is so awful Hannahsaunt. That poor poor child - and your DS and DH too.
It is my worst fear at the moment. DD3 seems to have no sense of danger at all.