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Pedestrian and bicycle safety tips
ITD recommends that children
walk to school if they live within a reasonable distance of if they
can do safely. The added daily physical activity is healthy and teaches
important traffic safety skills.
Parents can help reduce traffic congestion in school
zones by parking their vehicles and walking with their child to school.
Walking or bicycling to school also reduces unnecessary air pollution.
The National Safety Council also suggests that parents
review with their children the correct way to cross a street.
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Adults should walk or bike with their children to
school the weekend before classes resume to help determine the safest
travel route. Set a good example by using crosswalks and wearing a
helmet when riding a bike.
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Youngsters should always stop at the curb or the
edge of the road and look left, then right, and then left again before
crossing. They should continue looking in this manner until they are
safely across. Obey all traffic signals and/or the crossing guard.
Never cross the street against a "don't walk" 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 a student's vision
is blocked by a parked car or other obstacle, move out carefully to
where drivers can see you and you can see other vehicles, then stop,
and look left-right-left before proceeding.
• If students' vision is blocked by a parked car or other obstacle,
they should move out to where drivers can see them and they can see
other vehicles – then stop, and look left-right-left again.
• Help kids understand basic traffic rules that apply to them
when they ride a bicycle.
• Review hand signals for stopping and turning.
• Always wear a bike helmet when riding to school. 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.
• Kids say they would wear a helmet if parents made it a rule,
according to a recent study.
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