Summer is winding down and kids are heading back to school soon! Our schedules are busy with school schedules and extra activities so we wanted to send out some quick safety tips. Whether it’s the first year of kindergarten or the final year of college, here are some reminders to help you and your children be safe!

Kids in school buses, children on foot and bikes, harried parents in cars; Back-to-school days bring congestion-and an increase in potential hazards.

“This can be a dangerous time because children-as well as drivers-are adjusting to back-to-school routines,” says Alex Epstein, Director of Transportation Safety for the National Safety Council (NSC).

 
Driving Safely When You See a School Bus
  • If you’re driving behind a school bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car
  • Stay alert for flashing lights on a bus
  • Treat yellow flashing lights the same as a yellow stop light and decrease your speed
  • Stop when you see red flashing lights
  • The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough away to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus

 

Driving in the School Zone Area

  • Slow down and drive extra cautiously
  • Don’t load or unload children across the street from the school
  • Don’t double park; it blocks visibility for other children and vehicles
  • When flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection
  • Be prepared for kids to appear in unexpected places, like from between parkedcars; if they’re on bikes, prepare for them to turn in front of you without looking or signaling
  • If you need to use your phone, be sure you’re pulled over safely
  • Watch for kids walking while looking at their phones. One study found that a full 20 percent of high school students cross the street while distracted
  • If possible, carpool to reduce the number of cars at school
  • Don’t ever block a crosswalk; it forces pedestrians to go around you and could put them in the path of moving traffic

 

Walking to School Safely

  • Don’t walk to school with headphones in your ears or while looking at your phone
  • Walk on the sidewalk; if there’s no sidewalk and you must walk in the street, walk facing traffic
  • Before crossing the street, stop and look left, right and left again to see if cars are coming
  • Always cross the street at crosswalks. If no crosswalk is available, cross at intersections; never in the middle
  • Remember that there’s safety-and visibility-in numbers. Whenever possible, walk in groups rather than alone
  • Plan a safe route – and stick to it
  • Don’t push or chase each other near the street
  • Wear bright-colored clothes
  • Watch for cars at every driveway and intersection
  • Don’t accept rides if not arranged by a parent
  • If a stranger approaches you and offers you a ride home, don’t answer-run away. Head in a store or restaurant if you’re not near a safe spot like your school. If you feel you’re in danger, yell for help

 

Riding a Bike to School

  • Always wear bright colored clothing and a helmet that’s fitted and secured properly
  • Ride single file on the right side of the road; come to a complete stop before crossing streets and walk the bike across
  • Watch for opening car doors and other hazards
  • Use hand signals when turning

 

Back-to-school Safety Tips for High Schoolers

  • Parents set a good example; drive the way you want your teen to drive. You have more influence on your teen than you may think
  • Parents familiarize yourself with laws and restrictions in our state and go over them with your teen – Remind your teen of the laws when driving in school zones
  • Always buckle up
  • Young and inexperienced drivers should be reminded to slow down and avoid distractions behind the wheel. Put down the phone
  • Obey the speed limit
  • Limit the number of passengers to avoid distractions
Student Couple Going To College Class, Reading Book Stock Photo - Image ...
Back-To-School Tips for College Students
  • Check with your campus for safety systems to keep your college student safe. Do they have a campus escort service, safety maps or suggestions for secure routes or even a safety campus app
  • Take personal precautions – especially after dark – use a buddy system, call campus security for a ride, park in a lighted area and know the area you’re going before you head out
  • Be smart when posting on social media – don’t geotag your photos, don’t publicly announce when you’re home alone or leaving your home unattended, review your settings on your profiles to private or limit access to your approved connections and friends, don’t stay logged in to your social media accounts that will leave you vulnerable to hackers if you lose your phone or laptop
  • Always have a plan and let someone else know that plan, don’t use headphones, make arrangements to get home safely, avoid walking along deserted paths, download your campus map
  • Keep your things on lockdown – if you live on the first floor make it a practice to close and lock your windows, keep blinds and curtains closed, add a contact sensor, pick up a lock for your laptop, use a small safe to keep your valuables protected from unexpected “guests”

Our team here at Phillips Stafford Insurance Group is wishing you a very safe and healthy 2024-2025 school year!