Back to school safety tips || Sponsored by Power Jack Foundation Repair
August 7, 2023
As summer draws to a close, back-to-school season will be in full effect. It’s that time of year again when parents and children across the country are preparing to go back to school. Here are a few safety tips for parents and children.
SCHOOL ZONE DRIVING SAFETY TIPS
• Be on the lookout for school zone signals and ALWAYS obey the speed limits.
• When entering a school zone, be sure to slow down and obey all traffic laws.
• Always stop for school buses that are loading or unloading children.
• Watch out for school crossing guards and obey their signals. Always obey school zone speed limit signs. Remember, traffic fines usually double in school zones.
• Be aware of and watch out for children near schools, bus stops, sidewalks, the streets, in-school parking lots, etc.
• Never pass other vehicles while driving in a school zone.
• Never change lanes while driving in a school zone.
• Never make U-Turns while driving in a school zone.
• Never text while driving in a school zone. Put away your cell phone. Cell phone use is banned in active school zones, and violators face fines of up to $200 or higher in school zones where signs are posted.
• Unless licensed to do so, never use handicapped or emergency vehicle lanes or spaces to drop off or pick up children at school. Drop off and pick up your children in your school’s designated areas, not the middle of the street.
RIDING YOUR BIKE TO SCHOOL
• Check with the school to make sure your child is allowed to ride their bicycle to school. Some schools do not allow students to ride bicycles to school until they reach a specific grade.
• Make sure your child always wears a bicycle helmet! Failure to wear one could result in a traffic citation. Furthermore, in the event of an accident, helmets reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent.
• Obey the rules of the road; the rules are the same for all vehicles, including bicycles.
• Always stay on the right-hand side of the road and ride in the same direction as traffic.
• Be sure your child knows and uses all of the appropriate hand signals.
• Choose the safest route between home and school and practice it with children until they can demonstrate traffic safety awareness.
• If possible, try to ride with someone else. There is safety in numbers.
SCHOOL BUS SAFETY
• Make a habit of arriving at the bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled arrival of the bus.
• Make sure your child stays out of the street and avoids excessive horseplay while waiting for the school bus.
• Be sure the bus comes to a complete stop before getting on or off.
• When riding the bus, make sure your child understands they must remain seated and keep their head and arms inside the bus at all times.
• Do not shout or distract the driver.
• Do not walk in the driver’s “blind spot” — this is the area from the front of the bus to about 10 feet in front of the bus.
