Essential Back to School Safety Tips
We are excited to see our kids go back to school for the upcoming school year. Oftentimes, the beginning of a busy school year comes with an influx in road and foot traffic. The Law Offices of Salesia V. Smith-Gordon is dedicated to the safety and well-being of everyone. Therefore, we’ve outlined a few tips for both parents and students to follow to ensure their safety and avoid preventive injuries. Normally students are starting their day and going back to school around the same time as rush hour. Everyone should take precautions to promote the safety of our children during the school year. A few important things to be mindful of are listed below:
- Pedestrians should use the sidewalk when possible and walk facing traffic.
- Stop to look left-right-left before crossing the street and never assume a driver sees you.
- Walk in groups and stay alert and be aware of your surroundings
- Do not text, talk on the phone or use headphones while walking or crossing the street.
- Wait for the bus at least 6 ft. away from the edge of the road.
- Enter the bus only when it has completely stopped and the driver has indicated that it’s safe.
- When crossing the road in front of the bus, keep eye contact with the driver and stay 10 ft. ahead of the bus where the driver can see all pedestrians.
- Wear seatbelts if they are available on the bus.
Bikers should ride in the direction of traffic and come to a complete stop at stop signs.
Watch for hazards such as car doors opening.
Keep bicycles in good order with regular maintenance.
Children shouldn’t wear headphones or text while riding their bike.
Purchased an approved and certified helmet.
- Drivers should take precautions and obey flashing lights when driving through a school zone.
- Florida State Law bans drivers from texting and driving to prevent distracted driving and safer roads.
- Do not pass a school bus when it’s stopped, this is against the law.
Students should always stay with a friend or in a group.
Students should never talk to strangers and never accept a ride from an unfamiliar person.
Students should yell as loud as they can or run away if a stranger does something inappropriate or tries to grab them.
Parents should utilize new technology, such as smart home locks, security cameras and smart video doorbells to improve safety.
Enable shared location on cell phones to track and be sure of your children’s location.