September 1, 2020 | Safety
Family life and schedules can get hectic around the start of the school year. One way to keep your children safe is to discuss getting to and from school safely in different situations.
If your child walks to school each day, remind them to always walk on the sidewalk. If there isn’t one, they should walk facing traffic. When crossing the street, look both ways and use a crosswalk if there is one. Most schools will have a crossing guard at the entrance of the school to help children cross the road. Parked cars can block a driver’s view of pedestrians on the sidewalk, so never dart out in front of a parked car. Practice walking to school with your child a few days a week leading up to the school year so they are comfortable with their route and crossing roads.
When your child bikes to school, they need to be old enough to understand the rules of the road. Bicycles follow the same traffic laws as cars. Children should always wear a proper helmet and bright-colored clothing. Teach your child hand signals for turning so they can warn drivers where they plan to go.
When the school bus is approaching, line up on the curb 6 feet away from the road. Wait for the bus to completely stop before standing. Do not walk in front of the bus. If your child needs to cross the road, make sure they are at least 10 feet in front of the bus in view of the driver. Make sure your child knows to never run back in front of the bus, even if they dropped something in the road.
During the school year, roads around schools become more congested with pedestrians, drivers and buses alike. Never block a crosswalk when traveling near a school. If a bus is loading or unloading children, never pass the school bus or stopped vehicles.
