Back To School Safety

It that time again! School will be starting soon so it's time for parents and students to start thinking about getting to school safely whether the form of transportation is riding the bus, walking, biking, or riding in a car.

Riding the Bus. School bus transportation is safe. In fact, buses are safer than cars! Even so, most students reported injured were, not so much in a crash, but hurt entering and exiting the bus. Remember these safety tips:

• Have a safe place to wait for your bus, away from traffic and the street.
• Riders should stay away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop and the driver signals you to enter.
• When being dropped off, exit the bus and walk ten giant steps away from the bus. Keep a safe distance between you and the bus. Also, remember that the bus driver can see you best when you are back away from the bus.
• Use the handrail to enter and exit the bus.
• Stay away from the bus until the driver gives his/her signal that it's okay to approach.
• Be aware of the street traffic around you. Drivers are required to follow certain rules of the road concerning school buses, however, not all do. Protect yourself and watch out!

Walking and Biking to School. Even if you don't ride in a motor vehicle,pedestrains still have to protect themselves. Pedestrian injuries are the second leading cause of unintentional death among children ages 5 to 14. Children who walk to school or to a bus stop must be reminded to:

• Look left, right, then left again before crossing the street.

• Always try to cross a street where a crossing guard is present.

• Walk your bike through intersections.

• Walk with a buddy.

• Wear reflective material - it makes you more visible to street traffic.

• Riding in a Car. You might have heard that most traffic crashes occur close to home…they do. But by following a few fundamental safety guidelines, you can minimize your chances of being involved in a mishap.

• Safety belts are the best form of protection passengers have in the event of a crash. They can lower your risk of injury by 45%.

• You are four times more likely to be seriously injured or killed if ejected from the vehicle in a crash.

• Everyone needs to be buckled up properly. That means older kids in seat belts, younger kids in booster seats, and little kids in child safety seats.