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Back to school safety

A Shared Responsibility

HOUGHTON -- As summer winds down and local schools start up Sept. 8, roads and neighborhoods take on a different rhythm. School buses return to their routes, children walk and bike to school, parents navigate busy drop-off lines, and teenage drivers begin making the trip to school on their own.

With all of that activity, the start of a new school year is a good time for everyone to take a few minutes to review basic safety practices.

One of the most important responsibilities belongs to motorists. Drivers should slow down in school zones and residential neighborhoods and remain alert for children who may suddenly enter the roadway. Drivers approaching a school bus should pay close attention to its warning lights. Yellow flashing lights mean the bus is preparing to stop, while red flashing lights and an extended stop arm mean motorists must stop and remain stopped until the bus has resumed motion and the signals have been withdrawn.

Drivers should also watch carefully near bus stops, particularly in the morning and afternoon. Children may be distracted, running late or crossing the street unexpectedly. Extra caution when backing out of driveways or parking lots is also important.

For students who walk to school, sidewalks and marked crosswalks should be used whenever possible. Children should look left, right and left again before crossing a street and should put away phones and other distractions while walking near traffic. Younger children may need an adult or older, responsible companion when walking to school.

Bicyclists should wear properly fitted helmets, ride in the same direction as traffic and obey traffic signs and signals. Phones and other electronic devices should be put away while riding.

School bus riders have safety responsibilities, too. Students should arrive at their bus stop about five minutes early and wait a safe distance from the curb. NHTSA recommends staying at least 10 feet, or about five giant steps, from the curb while waiting. Children should wait for the bus to stop completely before boarding and should follow the driver’s instructions.

When getting off the bus, students should be particularly careful. They should never walk behind the bus and should make sure the driver can see them before crossing in front of the bus. If something is dropped near a bus, the safest choice is to tell the driver rather than immediately reaching underneath or around the vehicle.

For families driving children to school, everyone should be properly buckled before the vehicle moves. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using a car seat, booster seat or seat belt appropriate for a child’s age and size.

Teen drivers deserve a special reminder as well. The excitement of seeing friends again should never take priority over safe driving. Phones should be put away, passengers should be limited when appropriate, seat belts should be worn and posted speed limits should be followed.

Back-to-school safety ultimately depends on everyone doing their part. Drivers need to slow down and watch for children. Parents need to review safety rules with their children. Students need to remain alert and make good decisions.

The first lesson of the school year should be a simple one: getting to and from school safely is everyone’s responsibility.