Back to School Safety

  • Published
  • By Jeremy R. Gavidia
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Safety
It's that time of the year again; the time when kids are headed back to school. Each year, at this time, there are many reports of children being injured or even killed by darting between cars, not using cross-walks or by motorists simply not being observant enough.
However it's not just the responsibility of the motorists, parents are also responsible and need to take the time to educate their children on traffic laws as they pertain to pedestrians.

Parents, if your child walks to a bus stop or school, please walk the route with them so that you can identify any areas that need extra attention, i.e. cross walks, stop lights, etc. If your kids ride a bike to school, make sure they wear a helmet. Remind them that they might encounter a distracted driver or one who is in a hurry, so they shouldn't just expect a motorist to always watch out for them. All too often a sense of security can lead to a tragic mishap.

Drivers, it is imperative to take extra precautions when driving during the school year, not only for those parents who are dropping off and picking up their kids from school, but also for the other motorists on the road.

Parents are often so worried about their own child's safety and about being on-time for school and work, that they commit safety infractions after they drop their own children off. Staying safe may be as simple as adjusting your daily schedule to allow for extra travel time during the hours when the school busses are on the road. We've all been in a hurry to get somewhere when all of a sudden you're stopped in front or behind a school bus, then the next thing you know you're speeding to get back on schedule. This not only puts you in danger, but it puts the rest of the traffic and children that may be in your path in danger as well.

So please be aware of your surroundings, take the appropriate action to prevent yourself from driving dangerously, and most importantly remember that the children's safety comes first.

Expect school busses to be out between 6-8:30 a.m. and 2:20-5:30 p.m.