Back to School Safety from Novi Professional Firefighters: Slow Down and Stop for Buses and Kids

Novi, MI – It’s that time of year again when parents and children are preparing to head back to school. Heading back to the classroom can and should be a safe venture for our children. According to the National Safe Routes to School program, more children are struck by vehicles near schools than any other location. This does not only apply to younger school age children, teens are even more at risk. In fact, the rate of teens ages 13-19 being hit by a car while walking is nearly three times that of 5 to 12 year olds.

A new report from Safe Kids Worldwide revealed that nearly 1 in 5 high schoolers and 1 in 8 middle schoolers cross while distracted by technology. The dangers are even greater when it is darker outside. The research shows that 75 percent of teen pedestrian deaths occur between 7pm and 7am.

Novi Professional Firefighters ([IAFF Local #3232) recommends a few safety tips from Safe Kids Worldwide:

• Put down phones and headphone when crossing the street. This will remove the tendency to concentrate on technology and not your surroundings.
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing. This will help assure that the driver sees you, and has the ability to stop.
• Make sure you are visible to drivers when it is dark outside. During the late-night or early morning hours you should be more alert.
• Whenever possible, cross the street at a crosswalk or traffic signal.

In addition, Novi Professional Firefighters have a few safety tips for parents and drivers:

• Don’t double park. It block visibility for other cars and children
• Load and unload children in the designated areas.
• When possible, carpool to reduce the number of vehicles at the school
• Don’t block crosswalks
• Stop and yield to pedestrians in all school zones
• Always pay attention and stop for school patrol officers or crossing guards
• Take additional precautions in schools zones, near parks and playgrounds, and in residential areas
• Don’t honk your horn to scare pedestrians
• Don’t pass a vehicle that has stopped for pedestrians

By exercising some care and caution, and following the tips above can help minimize the risk for our school children. Your Novi fire fighters are striving to push this campaign to protect children against preventable accidents.

Call 9-1-1 for potentially life-threatening situations so fire fighters and other authorities are available to respond quickly when lives are in danger.

(Novi Professional Firefighters Local #3232)