By Pat Preslar, Mt. Gilead police chief • As summer draws to a close and children start heading back to school, family life can get pretty hectic. It’s important to remember – and share with your children – some key tips that will help keep them safe and healthy throughout the school year.
Whether children walk, ride their bicycle or take the bus to school, it is vitally important that they – and the motorists around them – take proper safety precautions. The National Safety Council has outlined the following reminders to ensure safe travels to and from school.
Walkers
- Walk on the sidewalk; if there is 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.
- Never dart out in front of a parked car.
- Parents: Practice walking to school with your child, crossing streets at crosswalks when available.
- Never walk while texting or talking on the phone.
- Do not walk while using headphones.
Bike riders
- Always wear a helmet that is fitted and secured properly.
- Children need to know the rules of the road: Ride single file on the right side of the road, come to a complete stop before crossing the street and walk the bike across.
- Watch for opening car doors and other hazards.
- Use hand signals when turning.
- Wear bright-colored clothing.
Bus riders
- Teach children the proper way to get on and off the bus.
- Line up 6 feet away from the curb as the bus approaches.
- If seat belts are available, buckle up.
- Wait for the bus to stop completely before standing.
- Do not cross in front of the bus if possible, or walk at least 10 feet ahead until you can see the other drivers.
Car riders
- The North Carolina Child Passenger Safety Law requires children younger than 16 to be properly restrained in an age, weight and height appropriate restraint.
- A properly used car seat or booster seat is required for children younger than 8 and less than 80 pounds.
- When a child reaches age 8 (regardless of weight) or 80 pounds (regardless of age), a properly fitted seat belt can be used in place of a car seat or booster seat.
- A child who weighs at least 40 pounds can legally be restrained using only a properly fitted lap belt if there is no lap and shoulder belt available for use with a booster seat; however, this is not considered to be the safest option.
- Children younger than 5 and less than 40 pounds must be restrained in the back seat if the vehicle has a passenger side front airbag and has a rear seat.
- Remember that many crashes occur while novice teen drivers are going to and from school. You should ensure seat belts are used, limit the number of teen passengers and do not allow eating, drinking, cell phone conversations even when using hands-free devices or speakerphone, texting or other mobile device use to prevent driver distraction.
Drivers
- Don’t block crosswalks.
- Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and take extra care in school zones.
- Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.
- Never pass a bus loading or unloading children.
- The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them to safely enter and exit the bus.
- And please be patient!