Back to School Safety Tips

Safety Tips for Kids Driving to School
There are a range of concerns for parents of teenage drivers, but let’s stay focused on the trip from home to school. Along with all of the laws and safety precautions that go with general driving, it’s important to keep in mind that many students drive through multiple school zones on their way to school. Keeping an eye out for younger children crossing the street on their way to school is an important thing for all high school drivers to keep in mind.

Also, it goes without saying that driver distraction can lead to a number of problems on the road, and this can be increased when a number of young children are also making their way to school. This means leave the cell phone alone. Car accidents due to cell phone use are increasing at alarming rates and as cell phones increase in their capabilities and functions they also increase in their potential for distractions.  It also means finding a safe route that allows a student plenty of time to make it to class before the first bell rings.

Heading back to school can be filled with excitement and anxiety and even a little bit of happiness for kids across the country (even if they’re not willing to admit it). While we can’t keep an eye on them once they head into class, we as parents can take some time and follow some tips to ensure that heading back to school is safe for our kids and the other children in our communities.

That dreaded time for kids across the country has arrived. School is back in session. While kids are worried about new teachers, more homework, and the latest fashions, parents can start turning their attention to back to school safety.

Obviously, there are a lot of different concerns depending on the age of your child, the way they get to school, and the activities they participate in, but there are a few things that most parents can keep in mind when it comes to back to school safety. One of the best things parents can do is to take the routes their children will be taking to school. If your child walks to school, take a little time to walk that same route. If your child drives to school, drive the route to see what’s out there.

Safety Tips for Kids Walking to School
Safe Kids lays out several safety tips for kids who walk on their own to school. They remind parents that the way children judge speed and distance isn’t necessarily the same way adults judge those things. In fact, they state that “most kids can’t judge speeds and distances until at least age 10, so younger kids need to cross with an adult.” Here are a few more of their back to school safety tips:

·         Whenever possible, cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks

·         Look left, right and left again before crossing the street, and keep looking and listening while crossing

·         Walk, don’t run, when crossing the street

·         Remove headphones when crossing the street

·         Try to make eye contact with the driver before you step into the road