Whether children walk, ride their bicycle or take the bus to school, it is extremely important that they take proper safety precautions. Here are some tips from the National Safety Council to share with your student to help keep them safe:
Walkers
Walk on the sidewalk, if one is available; if you are walking on a street with no sidewalk, be sure to walk facing the traffic
Before you cross the street, stop and look left, right and left again to see if cars are coming
Make eye contact with drivers before crossing and always cross streets at crosswalks or intersections. Do NOT dart between cars to get across the street
Stay alert and avoid distracted walking (put your cell phone away and pay attention to your surroundings)
Bike Riders
Ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, and in a single file
Come to a complete stop before crossing the street; walk bikes across the street
Stay alert and avoid distracted riding
Make sure your child always wears a properly fitted helmet and bright clothing
Riding the School Bus
Students need to stay seated during the bus ride
Keep your hands, feet and heads inside the bus
Hold onto your book bags, lunch bags etc. Aisles need to be kept clear.
Stay in your seat until the bus has stopped.
Safe Routes to School Program
The City of Richmond Safe Routes to School program works to keep our children safe as they travel to and from school. The program does this by working with city infrastructure such as the Department of Public Works to improve visibility and crossing zones around schools. It also works with schools to come up with policies to keep children safe.
“We see the entire city as a school zone because our students live and work and walk and drive across the city. We need to make sure that our students, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances, can reach their school safety to receive their education,” says Tara Fitzpatrick, program coordinator.