Cook County teachers, administration, and community members have been meeting in recent months to create a Safe Routes to School plan. There are many things parents can do to help their child get safely to school Here are some safety tips for students, whether they walk or ride the bus to school!
»»Have your children put everything they
carry in a backpack or school bag so
that they won’t drop things along the
way.
»»Warn children that if they drop something,
they should never pick it up. Instead, they should tell the driver and follow the driver’s instructions. If they bend over to pick up a dropped object, they might not be seen by the driver and
could be hurt if the driver pulls away from
the stop.
»»Have them wear bright, contrasting colors so
they will be more easily seen by drivers.
»»Make sure they leave home on time so they can
walk to the bus stop and arrive before the bus is
due. Running can be dangerous.
»»Walk your young child to the bus stop and have older
children walk in groups. There is safety in numbers; groups
are easier for drivers to see.
»»Practice good pedestrian behavior. Your children should walk
on the sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk, they should stay out
of the street.
»»If they must walk in the street, they should walk single file,
face traffic and stay as close to the edge of the road as they
can.
»» Tell your child to stop and look left, right and then left again
if they must cross the street, driveways or alleyways. Exaggerate
head turns and narrate your actions so your child knows
you are looking left, right and left.
»»Don’t let your child play running games or push and shove at
the bus stop.
»»Make sure your child stands at least 10 feet (five giant steps)
from the road while waiting for the bus. The child will then
be out of the way of traffic. Have younger children practice
taking five giant steps to become familiar with 10 feet.
»»Remind children to look to the right before they step off the
bus. Drivers in a hurry sometimes try to sneak by busses on the
right.
»»Teach your
children to secure loose drawstrings and other
objects that may get caught in the handrail or door of the bus
as they are exiting.
»»Follow the school’s procedures if you would like for the child
to get off at a stop other than the one they are assigned. The
driver isn’t allowed to let a child off at another stop without
written permission.
»»If you meet your child at the bus stop after school, wait on
the side where the child will be dropped off, not across the
street. Children can be so excited at seeing you after school
that they dash across the street and forget the safety rules.
»»Children should talk quietly, be courteous to the driver and
follow the driver’s instructions.
»»Children should stay seated during the entire bus ride and
keep the aisles clear.
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