Back-to-School Safety
Almost 3,500 California children are killed or injured each year in auto-pedestrian accidents. That's just too many! Extra attention is required by drivers and parents to bring those numbers down, especially now a new school year has begun. In an effort to protect all our children, we offer a number of important school related safety tips.

For Drivers
Scan sidewalks and the sides of the street for signs of kids playing and about to step off a curb at a corner or ready to run across the street from behind a parked car in the middle of the block.

Remember, the flashing red lights on school buses are your cue to stop as the bus picks up or drops off students. This is more than a good idea. In almost every case, it is the law. Even when the lights aren't flashing, use extra caution around school buses and school bus loading zones.

Remember the 25-mph speed limit in a school zone may give you the added reaction time needed to avoid hitting a child who runs into the street without looking.

For Parents
Before leaving home, spend time discussing safety issues with your children, such as obeying traffic signals, using the crosswalk, allowing enough time to cross the street safely, and looking left, right, and left again before stepping off the curb.

It's important to spend time with your children mapping out the safest route to and from school or the school bus stop. Make time to walk that route with your child and talk about handling specific traffic hazards, such as crossing safely at intersections without traffic signals or where to walk when there is no sidewalk.

Set a good example. Your children are more likely to follow your example than your words. Take extra care to "walk it, like you talk it" and model the safe behavior that you would like them to follow.

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