Road biking for an 18-19 y.o. Advice needed

[Ralph]

I don't know that riding on the road is any more dangerous than other riding.
The school traffic backs up all the vehicle traffic on my normal route to get to the trail to ride up to meet my buddies for our normal road ride.....so last week I had to use the sidewalk to go about 1/4 mile....going 4-5 MPH....and a 9 year old crashed into me and took me out. Broke my fibula on right leg. So I'm laid up from a freak accident...surgery this Thursday for a small plate to speed recovery. I'm wondering if anyplace is safe. And I don't know how you avoid the risks for your son.