Throughout Brookings County, schools are either already in session or will be shortly. It is important to keep our children safe. This weeks article uses information from the National Safety Council.
School days bring congestion: School buses pick up their passengers, kids on bikes hurry to get to school before the bell rings, and harried parents are trying to drop their kids off before work. Its never more important for drivers to slow down and pay attention than when kids are present, especially before and after school.
If youre dropping off
Schools often have very specific drop-off procedures for the school year. Make sure you know them for the safety of all kids. The following applies to all school zones:
Dont double park; it blocks visibility for other children and vehicles.
Dont load or unload children across the street from the school.
Carpool to reduce the number of vehicles at the school.
Sharing the road with young pedestrians
According to research by the National Safety Council, most of the children who lose their lives in bus-related incidents are 4 to 7 years old, and theyre walking. They are hit by the bus, or by a motorist illegally passing a stopped bus. A few precautions go a long way toward keeping children safe.
Dont block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light or waiting to make a turn, forcing pedestrians to go around you; this could put them in the path of moving traffic.
In a school zone when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection.
Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard holding up a stop sign.
Take extra care to look for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas.
Dont honk or rev your engine to scare a pedestrian, even if you have the right of way.
Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.
Always use extreme caution to avoid striking pedestrians wherever they may be, no matter who has the right of way.
Sharing the road with school buses
If youre driving behind a bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car. It will give you more time to stop once the yellow lights start flashing. It is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children.
Never pass a bus from behind or from either direction if youre on an undivided road if it is stopped to load or unload children.
If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop.
The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus.
Be alert; children often are unpredictable, and they tend to ignore hazards and take risks.
Sharing the road with bicyclists
On most roads, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as vehicles, but bikes can be hard to see. Children riding bikes create special problems for drivers because, usually, they are not able to determine traffic conditions properly. The most common cause of collision is a driver turning left in front of a bicyclist.
When passing a bicyclist, proceed in the same direction slowly, and leave 3 feet between your car and the cyclist.
When turning left and a bicyclist is approaching in the opposite direction, wait for the rider to pass.
If youre turning right and a bicyclist is approaching from behind on the right, let the rider go through the intersection first, and always use your turn signals.
Watch for bike riders turning in front of you without looking or signaling; children especially have a tendency to do this.
Be extra vigilant in school zones and residential neighborhoods.
Watch for bikes coming from driveways or behind parked cars.
Check side mirrors before opening your door.
By exercising a little extra care and caution, drivers and pedestrians can co-exist safely in school zones.
School safety tips
Many school-related injuries are completely preventable. Follow these steps to ensure your childs safety at school.
Backpacks
Choose a backpack for your child carefully; it should have ergonomically designed features to enhance safety and comfort.
Ask your children to use both straps when wearing their backpack to evenly distribute the weight on their shoulders.
Dont overstuff a backpack; it should weigh no more than 5% to 10% of your childs body weight.
Rolling backpacks should be used cautiously since they can create a trip hazard in crowded school hallways.
Playgrounds and sports
To reduce strangulation hazards on playgrounds, have your child leave necklaces and jackets with drawstrings at home.
A few bumps and bruises can be expected when your child plays sports, but head injuries should never be ignored.
I would be remiss if I didnt also mention that South Dakota State University is also starting its fall semester. That means that you need to be careful when driving during large and small university events.
I would recommend that you look at your schedule and leave a little earlier than normal and give yourself a little extra time until everyone is settled down and gets into their routine for the school year.
In closing, remember that weather also plays an important factor in back-to-school times. Often there will be fog, especially in the mornings, so please be extra careful out there.
As always, keep an eye on the sky.
Bob the EM
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