by Marilyn Morris
Child Advocacy Specialist
Wow! Can you believe it? Summer is over and another school year has begun. The kids need new school clothes because they grew 12 inches over the summer, the backpack that carried everything last spring has strange smells, and there is the never ending turmoil of what to do about school lunch. Thank heavens Twinkies are back!
One of the biggest and most important decisions surrounding “back to school” is transportation - how is my child going to get to and from school? Car pools are a hassle, busing often isn’t an option, and walking, biking, or skateboarding can be hazardous. I personally think teleporting would be the best solution; it would be fast, your kids would never miss the bus, and you wouldn’t have to worry about skinned knees on the way. But in the real world. . .
Walking to school can be a healthy option but factors like distance, time of day, and what kind of streets will need to be crossed can make it a scary option. Even though injuries from motor vehicle accidents are going down, pedestrian accidents are actually on the rise. According to the Utah Department of Public Safety, from 2010 to 2011, the percent of fatal crashes that involved a pedestrian increased 15%. One major problem is distractions for both pedestrians and drivers. Cell phones, iPads, and headsets are keeping our brains, ears, and eyes occupied at times when we need to be aware and alert.
Another problem is that children do not understand the distance a car needs to travel before it can stop. At 20 mph, the total stopping distance needed is 69 feet – at 40 mph it is 189 feet! Slippery roads, sun glare, and other factors can reduce the reaction time of the driver and make the distance even greater.
So what can we do to help our children walk to school safely? At Primary Children’s we have developed a pedestrian safety campaign called, “The Safety Walk.” We have a free information sheet available in English and Spanish that gives tips to help children stay safe while walking and crossing streets. These tips include:
- Always cross the street with an adult, until you are old enough to cross safely on your own. Use the route your parents have mapped out for you. Walk with siblings, neighbors and friends when possible.
- Always cross at corners where pedestrians are expected. Use crosswalks and obey traffic signals. Don’t assume that because you are in a crosswalk, a driver will stop. Never dart out into the street from between or behind parked cars.
- Always stop at the curb, look left, right, then left again. When there are no moving cars, walk – don’t run, across the street and keep looking left and right as you cross. Remember this is not a good time to stop and practice your new ninja moves.
- Always walk facing oncoming traffic if there are no sidewalks.
- Always make sure drivers see you before crossing in front of them. Look them in the eye. Remember when you are walking in front of a stopped car that there may be cars on the other side which might not be stopping.
- Always watch for cars leaving driveways, business exits, and alleys.
- Always wear light colored clothing with reflectors or better yet, carry a flashing light when walking at dusk or night.
- Be familiar with your route and have a grownup make arrangements for “safe houses” along the way that you can go to if you need help.
Walking to school is a grand old tradition that dates back to the dinosaur days. We have all heard our grandparents talk about how they had to walk 10 miles to school in drifting snow, uphill, both ways. Even if your child does not walk to school, these tips can help him be safe when he is walking to a friend’s house, to the neighborhood park, or just out enjoying the beautiful fall weather.
If you would like a free copy of our Safety Walk info sheet, call Primary Children’s Child Advocacy department at 801-662-6580 or visit our website.
