Back to school safety

  • Published
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  With the new school year starting today, it is vital for parents, students and drivers to refresh their minds on the rules of the road.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 24 million children travel on buses to and from schools and school-related activities each year. Around 440,000 public school buses travel more than four billion miles, and account for ten billion student trips each year.

The majority of incidents that occur during these time periods are when students were entering and exiting a bus. The following information is designed to help avoid such tragedies.

For Bus Riders
· Line up facing the school bus door, not along the side of the school bus.
· Don't play in the street while waiting for the school bus.
· Carry your belongings in a backpack or book bag.
· Never reach under a school bus to get anything that has rolled or fallen underneath.
· After getting off the school bus, move immediately onto the sidewalk or road shoulder, out of traffic.
· Wait for a signal from the bus driver before you cross the street. Walk at least ten steps away from the front of the bus so that the bus driver can see you.
· Never cross the street behind the school bus.

For Walkers or Bikers
· Never walk alone - always walk with a buddy.
· Pay attention to all traffic signals and instructions from crossing guards. Never cross the street against the light, even if there are no cars coming.
· Wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.
· Walk your bicycle across intersections.
· Wear reflective material to be more visible to street traffic.
· Anyone who rides in a car to school - or drives, in the case of older teenagers - needs to be particularly careful. Most traffic crashes occur close to home.

For Car Passengers and Drivers
· Everyone in the car should wear a seat belt. They lower the risk of injury in the event of a crash by 45 percent.
· Motor vehicles are the leading cause of death for people age 15 to 18 years old. Remind your teenager to take extra precautions if he or she drives to school, or rides with another teenage driver.
· Make sure babies and young children are in safety seats at all times during a car ride.

For more safety information, contact the safety office at (850) 283-4231.