Back to school road safety tips

Depending on who you ask, back to school is either the best or worst time of the year. Whether your kids are feeling nervous about beginning a new school year or excited about reconnecting with friends and teachers, they are busy thinking about going back to school, not about getting there safely. As roads and sidewalks fill with students walking, biking, or taking the bus to school, it is a good time to review road safety practices. It is up to both drivers and pedestrians to help improve the safety of our streets for all road users. 

Tips for walking to school safely

It’s not just drivers that need to make sure they’re paying attention as kids head back to school this fall. Whether you have teens or little kids, these back-to-school road safety tips for walkers will help students stay aware of the road around them.

1. Watch the road, not your phone.

2. Cross at marked crosswalks: Crossing in the middle of the street or between parked cars increases your risk of being in a collision.

3. Make eye contact: Before crossing, make eye contact with any drivers to ensure they have seen you before you start walking.

4. Use the sidewalk whenever possible, and if there is no sidewalk, walk on the edge of the street facing traffic.

5. Never play, push, or shove others when you walk around traffic.

6. Look out for vehicles.

Tips for riding the school bus safely

If your kids are riding the school bus this year, review these simple back-to-school road safety tips for bussers to help them stay safe.

1.    Arrive early. Aim to arrive at least 5 minutes early. Rushing can lead to safety short cuts.

2.    Practice SAFE:

• Stay five steps away from the curb.
• Always wait until the bus comes to a complete stop and the bus driver signals for you to board.
• Face forward after finding a seat on the bus.
• Exit the bus after it stops and look left-right-left for cars before crossing a street.

3. Remind children to use the handrail when entering and exiting the bus.

4. Always follow the bus driver’s instructions.

5. Let kids know that if they drop something near the bus, do not stop to pick it up. Tell an adult to retrieve it.

6. Keep all body parts in the bus and never throw objects out the window.

Tips for driving safely during the school year

As a driver you have a lot of responsibility on the road. This time of year, we need to be as alert as possible – especially in school zones. With excited kids returning to school, the roads, sidewalks, and shoulders are busier than ever. Reviewing these back-to-school road safety tips for drivers will help you keep yourself and others safe this September. 

1. Put your phone away. Texts, emails, and social media can wait.

2. Watch out for children when exiting driveways and garages.

3. Be aware of school zones and obey speed limits. Many school zones are equipped with speed cameras or other speed deterrents.

4. No sidewalks? Look out for kids using the road to walk or ride bicycles to get to school.

5. Be mindful of school bus pick up and drop off stops. There could be a lot of children congregating and not minding the rules of the road.

6. Pay attention to school bus signals. When a bus engages the flashing red stop sign, that means traffic needs to stop, no matter what direction the bus or vehicle is travelling.

Need another reason to review our back-to-school road safety tips? In addition to protecting yourself and others, having a clean driving record, free of any traffic violations in the last three years will help save you money on your auto insurance premium.

Request a free quote from Orbit Insurance Services and one of our experienced insurance brokers will contact you. Already a customer and want to review your existing policy? Find an office near you and contact an Orbit insurance broker today!