Back-to-School Safety Tips for Kids, Parents—and Motorists

Kids will be heading back to school soon, so it's time to remind everyone to take extra care to keep children safe.

School begins in the Capistrano Unified School District on Sept. 7. And while many children will be entering into yet another school year, there are others who will be going off to school for the first time. This means they may not be as careful as they should be when crossing streets or running to catch their buses.

Others may feel more comfortable returning to school, but they also may be more likely to take risks, such as failing to look both ways when crossing the street.

That’s why it’s so important to be extra vigilant this time of year, especially around school buses and bus stops.

The National Safety Council notes that most children who lose their lives in bus-related crashes are pedestrians 4 to 7 years old who are hit by the bus or by motorists illegally passing a stopped school bus.

“The area 10 feet around a school bus is where children are in the most danger of being hit,” according to the NSC website. “Stop your car far enough from the bus to allow children the necessary space to safely enter and exit the bus.”

Here are a few more safety tips:

Motorists should remember:

• Slow down and be alert, especially in residential areas and school zones. Children are unpredictable.
• Watch for children at intersections and near the road – especially in the morning and after school hours.
• Take extra care when entering or exiting driveways.
• Beware of children darting out from between parked cars.
• Be careful when following or approaching a school bus, especially near school bus stops.
• All 50 states require motorists in both directions on undivided roadways to stop for school buses that have stopped to let children enter or exit the bus.
• Don’t pass a school bus on the right.

Parents and children should remember:

• Try to cross streets at corners, using crosswalks and traffic signals when available.
• Don’t run into a street or between parked cars.
• Get to the bus stop early and stand well back from the curb, especially when the bus is approaching.
• Walk in front of the bus so the driver can see you. Don’t board the bus until the driver says it’s okay.
• If you drop something, tell the bus driver. Don’t reach for anything under or in front of a bus where a driver might not be able to see you.
• Don’t talk to strangers at a bus stop, and don’t get into a stranger’s car.
• Remove headphones and put away cell phones before crossing the street.
• If you’re riding your bike to school, always wear a helmet and follow the “rules of the road.”