Go to any mall, super store or department store and one thing is unmistakable: it’s back to school time. That means many kids are walking to their bus stop or riding their bikes to school, and lots of parents are picking up and dropping off their children. Having so many more people out and about—on sidewalks and roads—makes it more important to be extra vigilant and remind youngsters of some important back to school safety tips they need to observe.
If your children walk or ride their bikes to school, try to go with them at least once to make sure they take the safest route to and from school. Remind them how important safety is and that they need to be careful every time they leave the house. Here are some more safety tips every parent and child should know:
Walking
- Always walk on the sidewalk if there is one.
- Always cross at an intersection or crosswalk, if available, and look both ways before crossing. When it’s safe to cross, be sure to keep an eye out for cars.
- At intersections with traffic lights, watch for turning cars and obey all traffic signals.
- Don’t run between parked cars and buses, and never run through a parking lot.
- Don’t talk or text on your cell phone. Be alert at all times.
- Walk with a friend or group of friends, whenever possible.
Remind your children to use a crosswalk whenever possible, and to look both ways before crossing.
Bicyclists
- Always wear a helmet.
- Always ride single file on the right side of the road, never against traffic.
- Watch out for dangerous things in the road, including storm drains, gravel, pot holes, trash, etc.
- Stop at all stop signs and traffic lights, and be extra careful at crossroads with no posted signs.
- Be careful when riding near parked cars. Drivers might open their door or pull into the street if they don’t see you.
- Don’t talk or text on your cell phone, and don’t wear headphones.
- Always be prepared to stop.
Put your phone away while you’re driving.
Drivers
- Slow down and watch out for children, especially at the beginning of the school year, when they’re excited and may not be acquainted with a new school or the surrounding areas. Don’t assume that children are paying attention to traffic, because often they aren’t.
- Don’t rush yourself. Distracted or hurried parents sometimes tend to forget about safety once their own kids have been dropped off, especially if they’re running late. Be extra alert in or near school driveways or drop-off zones.
- Just as you’d warn your own children not to talk or text on the phone when they’re walking or riding their bikes, put your phone down while you’re driving.
- Obey the stop signs and flashing red lights when school buses stop to load or unload students. Traffic in both directions must stop, unless the bus is stopped on a divided highway, in which case only vehicles behind the bus must stop. However, even if you’re not required to stop, slow down and be extra aware of students crossing the street.
- Related posts: The Three Types of Distracted Driving, Distracted Driving = Disaster, and Distracted Driving Laws you Should Know About
Have any back to school safety tips of your own that you think others should remember? Tell us below in the comments!
