Carpools, buses, and students on bicycle and foot can complicate your commute—and compromise safety.
From 2008 to 2017, 264 children were killed in school-transportation-related crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Of those, 203 were either walking, waiting for the bus, biking or riding to or from school in another vehicle.
As the school year gets into full swing, here are some ways to keep others safe:
Car safety
- Be on high alert when entering a school zone, even on weekends and evenings. Slow down—whether you see children or not—and always obey speed limits, traffic signs and crossing guards.
- Avoid multitasking and distracted driving; never text and drive.
- Put children under the age of 13 in the backseat.
- Make sure infant and child car seats are properly installed. Car seats reduce the risk of death by 28 percent in the event of a crash. Visit safeseats4kids.aaa.comfor more safety facts, car seat guides, inspection information, car seat recalls and more.
- Double check for children in blind spots and when driving in reverse. Teach your children never to play in, under or around vehicles.
- Be on alert for children getting on and off school buses and crossing the street outside of marked crosswalks. Maintain a safe distance behind buses and expect frequent stops.
- When carpooling, remind passengers that they are legally required to wear a seatbelt.
Bike safety
- Make sure your child has the skills to ride a bike safely, such as riding in a straight line and signaling to vehicles when turning.
- Choose the safest bike route to school—one with less traffic and slower speeds. Use bike paths if they are available.
- Make sure your cyclists understand traffic safety rules, such as riding in the same direction as traffic and stopping at all stop signs and signals.
- Explain the importance of wearing a bike helmet to your child. According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, wearing a helmet can reduce the odds of head injury by half.
- Remain focused and alert when riding. Never use earbuds or electronics while riding.
Pedestrian safety
- Pedestrians 10 and younger should generally be accompanied by an adult when walking to and from school. Teach children the importance of using crosswalks and how to look left-right-left before crossing.
- Always walk on the sidewalk. If there is not a sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
- Try to drop off children where they won’t have to cross the street to reach their destinations. Avoid the dangers of jaywalking and encourage kids to always cross in clear view of traffic, and never from between parked cars.
- Just as you wouldn’t text and drive, don’t text and walk. Stay alert to your surroundings.
For more information, talk to a AAA Insurance agent or visit your local branch office.
