Keeping Kids Safe Is Everyone's Job
So, no matter who you are, here are some things you can do to make sure the trip to school and back home again is a safe trip.
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The
trip to and from school can be a dangerous time
for kids. There are a lot of traffic
dangers on the way to school. Not only are
there things that parents, teachers, bus drivers
and commuters can do to help keep our kids
safe. There are also things that kids can
do.
What Can Kids
Do?| Ask your parents to walk with you to school until you know what to do by heart. | |
| If you have a sidewalk in your neighborhood, use it. If there is no sidewalk and you have to walk in the street, walk facing the traffic. | |
| Pretend that you are invisible and that drivers can't see you. Kids are a lot smaller than cars, so it's hard for drivers to see you. | |
| Ask your parents to get you some really bright-colored clothes that drivers can see easily. | |
| Cross the street in an intersection and never walk between two parked cars. |
Three things you have to do before crossing a street |
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| Stop | Never go into a street until you stop first! |
| Look | Look left and right to see if there are any cars coming. If there are cars coming, wait for them to get past you. |
| Listen | Use your ears to hear the sounds of cars coming. If you hear the sound of a car, you had better look some more before you cross. |
Taking Your Bike?
 Always wear a helmet. |
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| Make sure drivers can see you. Bright clothes, reflectors and flashing lights can help make you easy to see. | |
| If you start to school when it's still dark, don't ride your bike. Riding in the dark is much more dangerous than in daylight. | |
| Remember that you have to follow all the same laws that drivers do. If you don't know what those laws are, ask your parents or teachers to help you understand them. If you follow those laws, you will be a lot safer. | |
| If you have to ride in the street, ride in a straight line as close to the right side of the road as you can. If you weave around, drivers can't tell what you are doing and you might get hit. If you are riding past parked cars, watch out for opening doors. |
Riding the Bus?
| Get to the bus stop early. If you wait until the last minute, you might have to run, which is really dangerous around traffic. | |
| When the bus pulls up to your stop, stay back from the bus -- at least three giant steps away. | |
| Before you get on the bus, wait until the bus stops all the way and the driver says it's okay. | |
| Never, ever push people in the line ahead of you. You might push someone out into the street if you do. | |
| When you are on the bus, always stay in your seat. | |
| Be quiet on the bus. The driver wants to make sure he gets you and your friends to school safely. But if you and your friends are really noisy, it makes the driver's job extra hard. |
Sometimes
you might have to cross the street |
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| 1. Never walk behind the bus -- the driver can't see you there. | 2. Always cross in front of the bus -- far enough for you to see the driver's face and to know she can see you. |
| 3. When red lights are flashing on a bus, it means that all the other cars are supposed to stop and wait for you to cross the street. But sometimes drivers might not see the lights and keep going, so even when the red lights are flashing you still have to stop, look both ways and listen before you cross the street. |
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What Can Parents Do?
| Go over these safety tips with your children. Make sure they understand them. | |
| All children are safer when they can be easily seen. Get them bright-colored jackets or hats for their walk to school. If your children start their journey when it's still dark, look for clothing that has reflective strips. | |
| If your child walks to school, be sure to walk the route with your child. Show him the traffic hazards along the way. Make sure your child knows how to deal with those hazards before letting him walk on his own. | |
| If you child is very young, consider driving your child to and from school or walking with your child each day. | |
| If your child rides the bus, be sure that he is ready in time to get to the bus stop at least five minuets before the bus arrives. A child in a hurry is a careless child. |
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What Can Drivers Do? |
| Be extra cautious during the times when kids are heading to school, especially when you are near a school. Kids can impulsively dart into traffic. Slow down to give yourself some extra reaction time. | |
| The drop-off zone around schools can be hectic -- be extra cautious in those areas. | |
| Stop for school buses when their red lights are flashing. Even after the bus driver has turned off the flashing lights, be extra cautious. There may still be children nearby who plan to cross the street and might not be watching for cars. | |
| If you're driving around sunrise, remember that when the sun is low to the horizon, it can be especially hard to see kids heading to school. |
What Can Teachers and Bus Drivers Do?
Don't assume that your charges have been taught how to travel safely to and from school. If you don't already do so, find ways to work these travel safety tips into your curriculum or your daily interactions with the kids. Teachers might want to look into lesson plans on this topic. (The NHTSA has some excellent teaching materials.)
Let parents know if you see their children doing unsafe things.
This is a public information brochure brought to you by:
E.S. Gallon & Associates
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