Back to school is such a busy and chaotic time of the year. Parents and children are late, and rush to either school or work, sometimes without paying much attention to their surroundings. Children run out into the street to catch a school bus, they see their friends on the other side of the street and forget to look both ways, a distracted driver doesn’t notice a child in the crosswalk. So how can you help protect your children and avoid hitting child pedestrians? Safekids.org has a variety of tips and resources for parents and drivers to help keep children safe this school year and to make the roads a safer place.
Did you know?
· Children sustain more than 39,000 nonfatal pedestrian injuries each year.
· Each year, approximately 630 child pedestrian fatalities occur.
With these statistics how can parents protect their children from being hit by a car? The following are some safety tips for parents and children:
Safe behaviors
· Don’t allow little kids to cross streets alone.
· Don’t let little kids play in driveways, unfenced yards, streets or parking lots.
· Teach your child to “look left, right and left again” before crossing the street. Cross when the street is clear, and keep looking both ways while crossing.
Safety basics
· Always supervise your child when crossing the street. (Personally I think you should always do this regardless of how mature your child is for their age.)
· Make sure your child is visible when he is walking. Add retro reflective materials to children’s clothing.
(All statistics and tips are provided via safekids.org)
Texting while driving is becoming a big problem and it can distract you long enough for a child to run in front of your car. Teenagers and young adult drivers are more likely to text and drive and as a parent I think it is important to teach your teens just how dangerous texting while driving is. An option to help prevent your young driver from texting their BFF while driving is to have them download an app on to their phone that lets the text messenger know your teen is driving and cannot text back.
Texting while driving is becoming a big problem and it can distract you long enough for a child to run in front of your car. Teenagers and young adult drivers are more likely to text and drive and as a parent I think it is important to teach your teens just how dangerous texting while driving is. An option to help prevent your young driver from texting their BFF while driving is to have them download an app on to their phone that lets the text messenger know your teen is driving and cannot text back.
http://www.drivesafe.ly/ (This app is available for many smart phones.)
http://www.textndrive.com/ (iPhone, Blackberry, Android)
*I actually downloaded this app on to my blackberry today.*
*I actually downloaded this app on to my blackberry today.*
What are some things you do to help keep your children safe around cars?
I am always concerned about children at the bus stop because sometimes cars pull out so fast from their driveaways in the morning and they are checking their emails on their mobile phones and not paying attention to the street where children are crossing. Finally our neighborhood put up speed bumbs and 25MPH speed limit signs this year for the safety of all the kids. We have now noticed a difference.
Yeah, I once witnessed the precise moment when a school kid got run over by a car in London. It was shocking, but thank god nothing fatal. Those applications for not texting when driving are an awesome idea, thanx!
Love the tips, thank you. My kids just started school yesterday! Driving in the school zone is scary.
I had no ideas the statistics were so high. Great safety tips.
I live near several schools, and have yet to see children wearing retro reflective material on their clothes while walking to and from school! It’s a safety hazard, for sure, and I would hate to be the one burdened with the responsibility of hurting a child. Parents really should revise these safety issues.
These are great tips! And while it all may seem like common sense, there are so many parents who just forget all about them.
Thanks for the reminders and tips…I am so downloading one of those apps.
and, the best way to create a kid who doesn’t talk/text and drive — is to not text/talk and drive yourself!
@ Veronica: I know exactly what you mean! My children aren’t school age yet but the mornings when I have to take them out during “school bus” hours are the most dangerous! I see people just pull out of their driveways so fast with a cell phone pressed to their ears. It’s horrible. The military installation we live on just changed the speed limits around the housing area; 15 mph normally and 10 mph when pedestrians/children are outside (regardless of what side of the street they are on).
@ Morena:
That must have been so scary! I’m so glad the child survived! –The textndrive app is awesome. I love it! 🙂
@ Liz: I hope your children had a great first day! Driving around children in the school zone is scary. I’m always worried.
@ Patty: I had no idea the statistics were that high, either. It was shocking for me, so I thought I’d share. I’m glad you liked the tips.
@ Laurita: I’m sure it probably never occured to parents to have retro reflective material on their children’s clothing. I know I never knew they made them for clothing, but my children aren’t school age yet. I will be making sure they do have something retro reflective on their clothes, now that I know about them. 🙂
@ Lisa: Oh, yes it is very easy! Especially when parents are in a rush and have so many things occupying their mind.
@ Carrie: That is a great example! 🙂 My toddlers never listen to what I say, they do what I do! If I tell them not to do something and I’m doing it, they’re going to copy me and do it anyway. lol
Thanks for sharing this great advice!
Thanks for the tips…. I will have to re-visit when my son starts school.