Back to School Driving Safety

Back to School Driving Safety

Wendy Tepfer-Director

Community Parent Center

It’s September and children from kindergarten through college are starting the new school year. For parents, back to school means the end of carefree summer activities and a return to routine school days. For drivers, however, back to school means a return to slower driving in your community and especially around schools zones.

With many newly licensed teen drivers resuming their daily commutes to high school or college, now is the perfect time for everyone to review safe driving rules: both adults and teens. This is an important conversation that parents must have with their teen.

Pedestrian-vehicle injuries are a leading cause of death for children ages 5 to 14. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of injury and death among teenagers; with the risk of crashes highest among teens 16 to 19 years old. The Community Parent Center, the Bellmore-Merrick CHSD and State Farm Insurance offer these safe driving tips for the back to school season and throughout the year:

• Always wear seatbelts.
• Limit number of passengers in car.
• Do not use cell phones or any other electronic devices when driving.
• Avoid distractions: No eating, drinking or adjusting the radio.
• Obey all traffic signs, signal and markings.
• Never drink alcohol or use other drugs while driving.
• Be familiar with school zones and obey crossing guards.
• Do not speed especially in school zones.
• Stop for school bus when flashing red lights.
• Drive defensively.

If every driver exercises caution, obeys the traffic laws and uses a little common sense, the first days of this school season and the entire year will be a little safer.

###

Established in 1988, the Community Parent Center is Bellmore-Merrick’s resource center for quality parent and community education programs addressing safe teen driving, substance and alcohol abuse prevention, bullying/ harassment and youth violence prevention. The mission of the Parent Center is to provide parents and families with education, resource information and the support they need to raise resilient children who are safe, confident, non-violent and drug-free. The Parent Center is a not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization,
underwritten by private donations, grants and legislative appropriations. Information about programs and educational materials an be obtained by visiting the Community Parent Center Website at www.communityparentcenter.org, or by calling (516) 771-9346.