Friday May 17 is the official annual Walk Safely to School Day.

Transport for NSW has encouraged primary school aged children around the state to promote road safety by taking part in the day on Friday May 17 and drawing attention to the most vulnerable users of roads.

In the past five years, 26 children aged between five and 12-years-old have lost their lives on NSW roads, including seven young pedestrians who were killed during school travel times.

The day encourages parents and carers to walk children to and from school to reinforce safe pedestrian behaviours and highlight the environmental and health benefits of regular walking. It also helps families reinforce road safety lessons learned at NSW schools.

Transport for NSW secretary Rodd Staples said more than one million NSW school students travel to and from school each day, with children among the most vulnerable users of our roads.

"While there have been no school-aged pedestrian fatalities in active school zones in NSW since 2013 and the government has ensured every school in NSW has at least one set of 40km/h school zone flashing lights, we must never become complacent."

Centre for Road Safety Executive Director Bernard Carlon said children learn road safety behaviours from the adults closest to them.

"It's vital adults display good behaviours, hold hands while walking with children up until at least the age of ten, choose safe places to cross the road and talk about why making safe decisions is so important," Mr Carlon said.

Earlier this year, the NSW government committed $18.5 million over four years for an extra 300 school crossing supervisors to boost pedestrian safety. The government has also rolled out additional school zone flashing lights at more than 500 schools and improved pedestrian safety infrastructure, with additional raised zebra crossings and pedestrian refuges, as well as improved signage to enhance safety at drop off zones.

Families can find practical road safety tips and activities for children on Safety Town at www.safetytown.com.au. Further information about school safety is also available on the Centre for Road Safety website at http://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au.