New York students will be headed back to school soon, so before summer ends is a good time for parents to review some school safety tips. Children spend most of their time at school from the end of August until the middle of June and emphasizing safety to your children can help keep child injuries at Manhattan schools at a minimum and give your children the time and energy needed to focus on their studies.
Children typically get transported to school one of three ways which include by bus, foot, or bicycle. The National Safety Council offers a back-to-school checklist for safety which is a good place for parents to start. Items on the checklist cover both transportation safety (walking, riding a bike or riding a bus) and school safety (playground safety).
New York school bus accident attorneys know that school accidents occur not only when children are riding to school or school-related events but also when they get on and off the bus. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that over 25 million students travel to school by bus in our country.
In 2005, there were 134 people killed and another 11,000 injured in school-bus related accidents. Injured victims in these accidents were comprised of school bus passengers, bus drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and occupants of other vehicles. For this reason, safety tips are provided not only for riding a bus to school but also for children who ride a bike or walk to school each day.
Tips for children who walk to school:
- Children 10 years or younger should always have an adult accompany them on their way to school, especially if the route requires crossing over roadways.
- Always look both ways before crossing a street, it doesn’t hurt to double check before you step off the curb.
- Use sidewalks so motorists can see you.
- Never sneak out from behind a car to cross the street.
Tips for children who bicycle to school:
- Be aware and follow the rules of the road.
- When riding with other bikers, follow in a single line on the right side of the road.
- Try not to ride in the dark but if you do, ride with an adult and make sure bicycle pedals and wheels have reflectors to increase visibility.
- Beginner bicyclists are encouraged to practice before they hit the streets.
Tips for children who bus to school:
- When waiting for a bus to arrive, allow plenty of time and stand away from the curb until the bus comes to a complete stop and the driver puts flashing lights on.
- Always stay in front of the bus so the driver can see you.
- At a minimum, allow 10 feet where you cross the street in front of the bus and only after the driver has signaled it is clear.
- Always use quiet voices when riding the bus and keep your hands and feet inside your seating area.
- Stay seated until the bus comes to a complete stop before you exit. Use the hand rail as you leave the bus.
- Even after the driver has signaled it is ok to cross the street be alert for other vehicles before you step to the middle of the roadway.
- Always make yourself visible to the bus driver and other vehicles or bicycles nearby.
New York City Department of Transportation offers a Safe Routes to School Program which focuses on improving safety for children getting to and from school each day. The NYCDOT selects 135 schools with the most accident rates and works to improve safety with regard to sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic patterns and safer routes to school.
Check to see if your school has a school traffic safety map locator by visiting NYCDOT Safety Map Locator online.
If your child has been involved in a school bus or school-related accident in New York City, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC for a free appointment to discuss the details of your case. Call 1-877-313-7673.
More Blog Entries:
Pedestrians, Bicyclists, Motorists Can Benefit from Complete Streets Law in Reducing New York City Car Accidents, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, August 12, 2011
Coach Safety Critical in Preventing New York City Bus Accidents, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, April 22, 2011
Teens Not Only Victims of New York City Car Accidents Involving Young Drivers, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, February 28, 2011
