Back to School Safety Tips

Child Injury,Personal Injury,Premises Liability - September 4, 2019 by Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates

School is back!

Okay, that can be taken as either a statement of relief or panic, depending on your situation. Yes, the kids are back in school and once again out of your hair for much of the day. However, as parents, we now have a whole new round of safety concerns to deal with.

Today, we want to take a moment and brush up on some safety tips you may already be aware of and possibly give you some new ones.

Riding the Bus

If your child is a bus rider, you should know the bus route ahead of time and scope out a walking route with your kids. A few days before school starts, take a walk with your child and make sure they know the safest route to the bus stop.

  • Know the stop signs and crosswalks
  • Teach your kids to never talk to strangers
  • If possible, make sure your child walks to and from the stop with a sibling, friend, or neighbor
  • Make sure your child knows to stay seated at all times on the bus and to follow all instructions from the bus driver, especially in the event of a car accident

All of these rules apply if your kid walks to school. Bonus points for living so close to the school, but please do not let that dampen your sense of safety.

Driving Children to School

If you drive your kids to school, you need to be cautious of pedestrians and preventing a pedestrian accident before it occurs. Not only do you have regular traffic to contend with, but the school buses are out in force. When you get close to the school and see those flashing “school zone” signs, slow down and realize that other kids are going to be on the roadways all around you. While we hope that most kids properly use the crosswalks and lights, don’t count on it. As the adult, you need to the one hyper-aware of your surroundings.

Please remember that sharing the road with school buses means following the law. While you may be in a hurry to get somewhere, those buses have precious cargo loading and unloading. It is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that is loading or unloading kids.

The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for kids. When the lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, you need to stop and wait. Even when the bus moves on, make sure you check and make sure no kids are waiting to dart across the road.

Riding a Bike

Many kids take their bikes to school, but that is not the only time to watch out. One of the first things kids do when they get home (especially while the weather is still nice) is hop on their bikes and hit the road. Watch out for children on their bikes. A bicycle collision could result in an injury or a fatality.

Information to Memorize

Make sure your child knows all of the following information by heart (if they are old enough to memorize things):

  • Your home address
  • Parent(s) cell phone number
  • The phone number of a trusted adult

Remind them to call 911 for any emergencies they see or experience. The pedestrian accident attorneys Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates wants you and your family to remain safe this school year.