Date: August 20, 2015
Many children are returning to school this Fall. Here are some safety tips to help your children be safer on their way to and from school.
For First-Time School Bus Riders:
1. School districts will allow parents and students a chance to meet their bus driver before school starts, take advantage and introduce yourself.
2. Practice with your child where the bus stop is and how to get on and off the bus.
3. Reassure your child that someone will be at the bus stop to meet him/her at the end of the day.
Tips for a Safe Bus Ride:
1. Leave plenty of time to get to the bus stop.
2. Pay attention to your surroundings, do not have music in your ears or a video game or phone in your hand to distract you.
3. Don’t wear a hood that will obstruct vision.
4. Stay a safe distance away from the street.
5. Stay in the sight of the bus driver outside of the bus at all times.
6. Wait for the bus to stop completely before stepping on or standing up from your seat to get off.
7. Make sure there are no hanging objects from your backpack that could get caught on handrails.
8. Hold the handrails while walking.
9. Find your seat and sit down before the bus starts moving.
10. Listen to directions.
11. Do not put any body parts or objects out of the window.
12. Do not pick up anything that you have dropped near the bus, ask the driver for help to ensure he/she sees you.
13. Wait to cross the street until the driver says it is ok.
14. Parents meet your children on the same side of the street that the bus is dropping off so they won’t have to cross the street.
Pedestrian Safety:
1. Always cross the streets at corners where there are designated crosswalks and traffic signals.
2. Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street in front of them.
3. Always walk in the sidewalk. If no sidewalks, walk facing traffic.
4. Always look both ways several times before crossing the street.
5. Be aware of cars that are turning or backing up, look at driveways.
6. Never run out into the street or cross between parked cars.
7. Wear reflective material to make sure that you are seen.
Safe Riding in a Car:
1. Always wear your seat belt and buckle up as soon as you get in the car.
2. Never share a seat belt.
3. Children under 12 should always ride in the back seat.
*To learn more visit National Safety Council at www.nsc.org.
