Getting to school can be one of the riskiest things your children do. No matter what transportation option you and your kids choose, they are at risk of car accidents, bicycle accidents, or pedestrian accidents. Fortunately, there are things you can do to reduce the risk.
Reducing the Risk of Traffic Accidents on the Way to School
Let’s take a look at the most common ways kids use to get to school and discuss ways to make each option safer.
Walking
Walking to school can be a good option to give children a sense of independence and some exercise and fresh air. It may only be an solution if school is close by, but if that’s the case you can reduce the risk of pedestrian accidents and other injuries by:
- Providing supervision, either from an adult or an older student, along the way.
- Reviewing and walking the route together before school starts.
- Reviewing pedestrian safety rules before the school year.
- Banning distractions such as texting during the school walk.
Biking
Biking can be a fun way for students to get some exercise and get to school. You can make this way of getting to schools safer by:
- Ensuring your child wears a helmet correctly when they bike.
- Biking the school route together so you can gauge any hazards.
- Making sure your child doesn’t listen to music or get distracted while biking.
- Encouraging your child to bike with others to stay safe.
- Considering biking trails rather than streets as a safer alternative.
School bus
The school bus is designed to get children to school safely, even when they live far from campus. The good news is that this is one of the safer options, with school bus accidents being less common in Florida than car accidents or pedestrian accidents. You can make this option even safer by:
- Reviewing school bus safety rules with your child to make sure they understand what to do in an emergency.
- Providing your child with a safe place to be picked up and dropped off by the bus, with adult supervision and good visibility for the bus driver.
- Talking to your child about safe ways to get on and off the bus, and emphasizing the importance of looking both ways before crossing the street.
Drop off
Many parents choose to drop their children off to school, because this way they can keep an eye on their kids up until the time they get to a school’s doors. Dropping off a child can reduce the risk of pedestrian and bicycle accidents and reduces the fears many parents have of strangers approaching their children. You can make the drop off process even safer with these tips:
- Check the drop-off zones at your child’s school before the school year starts, so you can get familiar with the area and any signs to help direct traffic.
- Put away distractions when dropping your child off or picking them off, so you can be alert for children running around.
- Give yourself extra time in the mornings so you’re not rushed and tempted to speed.
- Consider setting up carpooling with other parents to reduce the fatigue you may feel in dropping off your children every day.
- Create a written schedule at home, posted in a prominent place, so you know when drop-off and pick-up times are.
If you or your child have been injured during the route to school, whether it’s in a pedestrian accident, school bus accident, car accident, or bicycle accident, you may wish to speak to a personal injury attorney to find out whether you have a claim.
Flaxman Law Group is a personal injury law firm with offices in Miami, Homestead, and Hollywood. We serve the entire South Florida area and have so far used our more than 60 years of combined experience to recover more than $100 million on behalf of clients. If you or your child have been injured and you think you may have a case, contact Flaxman Law Group at 866-352-9626 or contact us online to schedule a free, no obligation consultation.