Back to School Safety

As schools go back into session across the country and school buses return to our streets, let’s remind ourselves that we all need to share the road and stay alert to help keep everyone safe.

Here are a few safety tips to remind us, our children, and especially those new drivers in the family that we all have a role to play in keeping everyone safe and healthy throughout the school year.

For Drivers

• Slowdown in school zones. Be prepared for sudden stops.
• Watch for school buses & always stop when required. 
• Give pedestrians and cyclists plenty of space.  Stay especially alert at crosswalks.
• Put the phone away! Avoid distractions while driving.
• Allow extra travel time. Mornings, especially those first few days of school may be busier with school traffic and little ones learning their new routines.
• Be patient and courteous, especially around bus stops & drop-off / pick-up areas. 
• Look twice before moving! Children can be unpredictable and may be difficult to see.
• Always follow crossing guards and school-zone signs.
  
  

For Parents & Students

• Use designated crosswalk! Remind your children to always look left, right, and left again before crossing.
• Teach your children to make eye contact with drivers before stepping into the roadway.
• Remind your children to walk, don’t run, through parking lots, school drop-off areas, and across streets.
• Teach your children to stay alert and avoid distractions, including phones and headphones, when walking or biking.
• Ensure your children are wearing their helmets every time they ride a bike, scooter, or skateboard.
• Instruct your children to use sidewalks whenever available and walk facing traffic when there is no sidewalk.
• Teach children to recognize school bus danger zones and stay at least 10 feet away from the bus when waiting.
• Remind children to never walk behind a school bus. Wait until the bus has left and the roadway is clear.
• Practice your child’s route to school before the first day so they know where to walk and where to cross.
• Make sure children know who they can ask for help if they become separated from a parent or feel unsafe.
• Make sure your children know your full name, phone number, & home address so they can provide your contact information to a trusted adult if they become separated from you or need help in an emergency.
• Keep emergency contact information updated with the school and in your child’s backpack or phone.
• Remind children about safe boundaries and to never leave school or go somewhere with a stranger without permission.

Click here to download a copy of the checklist.