As summer draws to a close, back-to-school season is in full effect. Remember to safely share the roads with school buses, pedestrians and bicyclists, and provide children with the necessary knowledge to stay safe at school.
A little extra time and precaution for the kids in and around the streets.
Safe Roads for Safe Kids Whether children walk, ride their bicycle or take the bus to school, it is extremely important that they - and the motorists around them - take proper safety precautions.
Send Kids Off Safely Injuries are common at school—but many can be prevented.
Before you send your high school age children off, be sure to run through these safety topics.
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.
- Be aware of and watch out for children near schools, bus stops, sidewalks, in the streets, in school parking lots, etc.
- Avoid using a cell phone, unless it is completely hands-free, while driving in a school zone.
Now, for the Younger Ones - 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.
- Explain to the kids that they MUST use crosswalks, but also, that a crosswalk does not guaranty their safety. They must still watch out for cars and be careful not to step out in front of one.
- Get off and walk your bike in a crosswalk. Under Arizona law, when you are on your bike, you are subject to the same rules of the road as drivers.
- If possible, try to ride with someone else. There is safety in numbers. Playground Safety
- Due to strangulation hazards, do not attach ropes, jump ropes, clotheslines, pet leashes or cords of any kind to playground equipment.
- Be watchful of sharp edges or points on equipment.
- Alert the school if you notice anything strange about the playground equipment at your child’s school.
- Spaces that can trap children, such as openings between ladder rungs, should measure less than three and a half inches or more than nine inches.
- All elevated surfaces, such as ramps, should have guardrails to prevent falls.
Walking to School
- Leave early enough to arrive at school at least 10 minutes prior to the start of school.
- Use the same route every day and never use shortcuts.
- Go straight home after school. Do not go anywhere else without permission.
- Always use public sidewalks and streets when walking to school.
- Demonstrate traffic safety awareness and pick the safest route between your home and the school and practice walking it with your children.
- Try and walk to school with other students. There is strength in numbers.
- Teach your children to recognize and obey traffic signals, signs, and pavement markings.
- Only cross streets at designated crosswalks, street corners and traffic controlled intersections.
- Explain to the kids that they MUST use crosswalks, but also, that a crosswalk does not guaranty their safety. They must still watch out for cars and be careful not to step out in front of one.
- Always look both ways before crossing the street and never enter streets from between obstacles like parked cars, shrubbery, signs, etc.
- Avoid talking to strangers. Teach your children to get distance between themselves and anyone who tries to approach or make contact with them.
- If a stranger does approach your child, make sure they know to immediately report the incident to you or a teacher.
- Teach your children to never get into a vehicle with anyone, even if they know them, without your permission.
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.
Protect New Teen Drivers
- Teen crashes spike in September as they head back to school and happen more often during hours when school begins and lets out. Learn the best ways to keep your teen drivers safe
- Don't let them text and drive! Talk to them about the dangers that are behind texting and driving.
