8/26/2005
Motorists, students urged to be cautious around crosswalks, bus stops
BOISE - Thousands of Idaho kids begin their mornings by boarding the bus, walking or catching a ride to school.
Regardless of how they get there, the annual pilgrimage back to school is a time to for extra caution. Motorists need to be especially wary of preoccupied children enroute to school or home, and school-age children need to be aware of traffic.
The Idaho Transportation Department joins the Idaho Department of Education, school districts and parent organizations throughout the state in urging motorists to watch for children crossing streets and roads, and reminds drivers to observe traffic laws related to school buses.
"Until about age 10, most kids haven't developed the skills to safely cope with traffic," said Greg Fredericksen of ITD's Office of Traffic and Highway Safety. "They typically act on impulse, they can't judge car speed very well, and they assume that if they see you in a car, you can see them."
Children mistakenly believe that cars can instantly stop for them, Fredericksen added.
In Idaho, 76 kids between the ages of 4 and 14 were involved in pedestrian-car crashes during 2004, 18 more than the previous year. Nearly one third (31 percent) of pedestrians killed were in that same age group.
Fredericksen offers the following safety reminders for motorists and students:
FOR DRIVERS
Slow down in school zones. Use caution when traveling through school zones or near routes used by children, and obey the instructions of crossing guards. Observe posted speed limits; fines are increased for speeding in a school zone in many parts of the state.
Stop for school buses. Motorists must stop when approaching a stopped school bus if the bus displays flashing signals and/or an arm with a stop sign attached. Vehicles must remain stopped until all children are clear of the roadway and the bus moves again.
Park and walk with your child. In addition to school buses, much of the congestion in school zones is created by parents driving children to school. To eliminate some of this congestion, Fredricksen suggests parking a couple of blocks away and walking the rest of the way with your child.
Walk or bike with your child. If you live within a reasonable distance from the school, consider walking or biking with your child. This added daily physical activity is great for everyone and allows you to teach your child important traffic safety skills.
FOR STUDENTS
Look left, right, then left again. Always stop at the curb or the edge of the road and look left, then right, and then left again before crossing. Continue looking in this manner until it is safe to cross. Obey all traffic signals and/or the crossing guard -- never cross the street against a light, even if you don't see any traffic coming.
Be visible to others. Wear reflective material if walking or biking to school in low-light conditions. If your vision is blocked by a parked car or other obstacle, move out to where drivers can see you, and you can see other vehicles. Then stop and look left-right-left again.
Always wear a bike helmet. According to the transportation department, kids ages 4-19 make up the majority of bicyclists involved in collisions in Idaho, and a helmet is the most effective way to prevent head injuries.
For information about safe routes to school, visit the Idaho Transportation Department's Web site at itd.idaho.gov/bike_ped .
EDITOR'S NOTE: For information about school bus safety, contact your local school district or the Idaho Department of Education at (208) 332-6812.