By Caroline Carr

Summer is winding down and we are making plans for the last party of the summer…Labor Day. What comes next? You guessed it! The kids go back to school! While we are getting the fall wardrobe together and wondering who we are going to sit with at lunch, don’t forget some of these tips for safety.

For Students:

• Arriving at the bus stop a little early will give you plenty of time to get there so you don’t have to take chances when crossing streets.
• Make sure to cross where there is a crossing guard so they can help you to cross safely.
• Never accept a ride from a stranger. Don’t even speak to them. If a stranger tries to offer you a ride or talk to you at all, be sure to report it to your parent, a teacher or the police.
• Make sure the bus comes to a complete stop before entering or exiting. Don’t stand up on the bus while it is moving.

For Parents:

• Talk to your children about bus safety.
• Make sure they know what to do if they encounter a stranger.
• Have a plan in place in case your child misses the bus.
• For younger children, it’s a good idea to walk with them to the bus stop and wait until they are safely on their way to school. Then meet them at the bus stop when they leave school.

For the Community:

Look out for pedestrians as we head back to school this fall. It’s time to slow down and make sure we watch for children walking to bus stops and going home. Even though parents and teachers tell them how to be careful on the road, kids often act in the moment and forget to look both ways or be aware of traffic. It’s up to all of us to look out for them.

• Don’t block crosswalks when stopping at stop signs or red lights.
• Follow school bus protocol. Yellow lights mean to slow down as the bus is going to stop soon. Flashing red lights mean the bus is loading or unloading passengers, and you must stop until the lights go out.
• Always yield the right of way to a pedestrian. Don’t blow your horn at them if they are walking slow. Give them a wider berth when passing them on the shoulder.
• Obey the speed limit when driving through a school zone.
• Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination in case there is a school zone or bus stop on your way.

Safety is a community responsibility. All of us must make sure children are safe when going to and from school. It’s easy to get out of practice during the summer. Take the time to familiarize yourself with school zones and bus stops along your regular routes. Make time for safety!