7 Tips for Back to School Safety

Motorists driving in school and residential zones the end of this month need to be extra careful and keep an eye out for kids on bikes or children darting across the street.

“Many children will be going to school for the first time, so they may not be careful when crossing the street or running to catch the bus,” said Vince Burks, a senior assistant vice president with Amica Insurance. “Older children know the routine, but may forget basic safety rules in their excitement to catch up with old friends or start classes in a new school.”

The National Safety Council offers these safety reminders:

• Children who walk to school should use sidewalks whenever possible. On streets with no sidewalks, walk on the side of the road, facing traffic.
• Children should be reminded to cross streets at corners, using crosswalks and traffic signals when available. Before crossing the street, they should stop and look all ways to see if a car is coming – and make sure the driver sees them.
• Children riding bicycles to school should always wear helmets. They also should ride on the right side of the road, single file, following all rules of the road.
• Children taking buses should get to their bus stops early and stand well back from the curb, especially when a bus is approaching.
• Bus riders should always walk in front of a bus, where the driver can see them, and get on or off a bus when the driver says it’s okay.
• Stay seated on the bus until it has completely stopped.
• New teenage drivers are sharing the road with many other inexperienced drivers. They need to be extra cautious when driving to and from school and also in the school parking lot.