Keep your child’s trip to school as safe as possible with these tips from www.safekids.org.
Go Safely on Four Wheels
- While waiting for the bus, stand back 5 giant steps from the street.
- When the bus stops, line up in a single-file line.
- Hold on to the handrails, and be careful that your clothes or other objects don’t get snagged.
- When you get off, take 5 giant steps away from the bus.
- If you drop something near the bus, do not pick it up. Tell an adult.
- When crossing the road, walk 5 giant steps in front of the bus and look both ways before you cross.
Go Safely on Two Wheels
- Make sure your bike is in good working condition. Check that reflectors are secure, the brakes work properly, gears shift smoothly and tires are properly inflated.
- Wear a helmet whenever you ride, and make sure the helmet fits properly.
Review bike safety tips:
- Ride with traffic, not against it, and ride as far to the right as possible.
- Use appropriate hand signals when turning or stopping.
- Stop at all stop signs and red lights.
- Stop and look left, right, and left again before entering a street.
- Look behind you and yield to oncoming traffic.
Go Safely on Foot
- Parents: Walk with your children to find the safest path and most direct route with the fewest street crossings. Then make sure they take the same route to school every day.
Review pedestrian safety with your child:
- Look left, right and left again before crossing the street.
- Walk, don’t run.
- Understand and obey traffic signals and signs.
- Cross at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks when available.
- Stop at the curb (or at the edge of the road if there is no curb) before crossing the street.
- Never run into a street without stopping and looking first.
- Walk facing traffic on sidewalks or paths.
- Walk as far to the left as possible if there are no sidewalks.
