As students across the country begin a new school year, safety needs to be a top priority for parents, educators and communities. One of the most crucial elements of back-to-school safety is helping to ensure that students are aware of potential risks and how to avoid them, particularly in areas like bus stops, crosswalks and other common travel routes.
Whether children ride buses, walk through crosswalks or navigate busy streets, understanding and implementing back-to-school safety tips can prevent accidents and help to keep everyone safe.
Safety around school buses
Many parents are likely aware that school buses are among the safest forms of transportation for students; nevertheless, accidents can still happen if safety rules aren’t followed. Parents should remind their school-going kids to always:
- Wait for school buses at a safe zone and avoid playing or running around while they wait
- Arrive early at the bus stop to avoid rushing to catch the bus
- Stay where the bus driver can see them
Students should also be reminded to wait for the bus to stop entirely before attempting to board or alight and use the handrails for support.
Moreover, parents should always remind their kids to look both ways before approaching the bus, even when the bus’s stop arm is extended.
Safety at crosswalks
While crosswalks are safety zones for students who walk to school, they should still take precautions to avoid any safety hazards. Students should remember to:
- Avoid jaywalking because crossing outside of crosswalks increases the risk of accidents
- Make eye contact with drivers before stepping into a crosswalk to help ensure they’ve been seen
- Wait for the walk signal even if the road appears clear
Parents should know that drivers are required to slow down when approaching school zones in anticipation of any students that may be crossing the road.
Additional safety considerations
Students ought to be cautious when traversing areas around schools and their neighborhoods. Parents should remind their children to always walk on the sidewalk; if no sidewalk is available, they should walk in front of the traffic. Furthermore, teenagers can be safer by avoiding using smartphones or plugging in their earphones when walking.
Back-to-school safety requires a collaborative effort between parents, teachers and the community. Caregivers can protect school-going children from preventable accidents by emphasizing the importance of bus, crosswalk and overall pedestrian safety. However, prevention may not be enough to phase out accidents completely. Parents whose children get involved in accidents can benefit from compassionate legal guidance as they seek justice by holding the at-fault party responsible.
