Get Your Kids To School Safely With These Tips

Many Kentucky students have started their school year and no matter what method of transportation they may take to get them to and from school, we have gathered a list of travel suggestions to help you all arrive safely.

If your child gets dropped off at school by a parent or caregiver:

In the United States, 663 children ages 12 years and younger died as occupants in motor vehicle crashes during 2015, and more than 121,350 were injured in 2014. Prevent them from being one of them.

• Watch for school zone signals and ALWAYS obey the speed limits, crossing guards, and traffic laws.
• Use the designated drop off or pick up zones.
• Stop for buses that are loading or unloading children near schools, sidewalks, in the streets, and in school parking lots.
• Don’t be a distracted driver. Avoid your cell phone or allowing yourself to be focused on anything that would require you to not be alert.
• Buckle up. Kentucky is still behind in seatbelt usage.
• If your child is old enough to drive to school, remember that six teens, ages 16 to 19 die every day from motor vehicle injuries making this age group three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash. You can read more on safe driving for teens here.

If your child rides their bike to school;

It’s especially important to ensure a children’s safety when they’re biking to and from school. Teach your children the common mistakes bike riders make that can cause accidents like riding too fast, playing while riding, doing tricks or not knowing how to control their bike. In addition, have them follow these bike riding safety rules.

• Your child needs to be wearing a fitted helmet. This simple act can reduce the risk of a serious head injury by up to 85 percent.
• Equip your child’s bike with lights so they are more visible to drivers.
• At the appropriate age, teach your children bike traffic hand signals and the importance of staying on the right-hand side of the road.
• Choose the safest route between home and school.

Just like walking to school, if you are concerned about your child riding to school alone you could organize a group ride with other children.

If your child walks to school;

One in five traffic deaths among children ages 14 and under are pedestrian deaths. Children are at greater risk of injury or death from a collision with a vehicle due to their small size, inability to judge distances and speeds, and lack of experience with traffic rules. Your child can walk to school safely by following these rules.

• Use the same, safest route on public sidewalks and streets.
• Look both ways before crossing the street and never enter streets from between buildings, bushes or parked cars.

• Teach your children to obey traffic laws, and know what markings at crosswalks, street corners, and traffic controlled intersections mean.
• Never run across intersections. Respect the crossing guards and follow their cues.

School Bus Safety

School bus stops are strategically placed for safety purposes. In Kentucky, children must be picked up at their designated stop. These are additional bus riding safety measures you can help put in place.

• They need to be waiting patiently at the stop. Playing in the road or near the bus stop can be deadly.
• Be aware that bus drivers have an area from the front of the bus that is blind to them – about ten feet.
• Before stepping on or off the bus, make sure it has come to a complete stop.
• Remain seated and keep their body inside the bus.
• Never shout or distract the bus driver. Let your child know that if they see a bus driver being distracted or playing on their phone while driving, they should tell you.

Have a Fun, Productive and Safe School Year

If you or your child should be in an accident while traveling to and from school, know we are here to help. Call us at 888-709-9329 or contact us by e-mail to schedule an appointment with one of our Madisonville or Owensboro personal injury attorneys.