It’s that time of year again…. time to head back to school! As the summer winds down and fall picks up, road travel increases, particularly with the commute of students, school buses, commercial vehicles, and employees heading back to work. Safe Communities of Wood County reaffirms the safety messages presented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Ohio Department of Transportation that encourage safety on the roadways and sidewalks during the back to school season.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 23 million students take the bus to and from school each day; with an average of 24 school-age children dying in school transportation-related crashes each year.
To protect those who utilize school transportation, follow these safety tips:
Children:
- Arrive to the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
- Stand least six feet away from the curb for personal protection and for the protection of traffic
- Never walk behind the bus; instead, always be positioned in front of the bus while waiting, entering, and exiting the bus.
- Make eye contact with the bus driver before taking steps toward or away from the bus.
Parents:
- Visit the bus stop with your child(ren) to have a visual of the child’s experience and to show the child where to stand while waiting.
For more information regarding bus stop and back to school safety, contact Safe Communities of Wood County at 419.372.9353 or check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website at http://www.nhtsa.gov/.
Remember, safety starts at the bus stop. Let’s make this back to school season the safest one yet.
For More Information:
- Jerrod Savidge, 419-352-2481
- Safe Communities Coordinator, Sandy Wiechman
419-372-9353 or swiechm@bgsu.edu