|
Pedestrian and bicycle safety tips
ITD
recommends that children walk to school if they live within a reasonable
distance of if they can do so 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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
|