Back to school season arrives before many families are ready. Across the Southwest, children often head back to class while summer is still in full swing. As school routines return, traffic increases, schedules get busier, and everyone is focused on getting where they need to go. In the middle of the rush, transportation safety deserves extra attention.
Whether your child walks, rides a bike, takes the bus, or travels by car, reviewing a few simple safety habits before the first day of school helps build confidence and reduces risk.
Walking to School
Walking to school gives children independence and exercise, but it also requires good safety habits.
Review your family’s walking rules before school starts and walk the route together if possible. Point out crosswalks, intersections, and places where extra caution is needed.
Remind your child to:
- Walk on the sidewalk whenever one is available. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
- Stop before crossing the street. Look left, right, and left again for approaching vehicles.
- Cross only at crosswalks or intersections.
- Make eye contact with drivers before stepping into the street.
- Stay alert and avoid distractions like phones or headphones while walking.
Bike Safety
Riding a bike to school is another great option when children know how to ride safely.Practice the route together before the school year begins and review the basic rules of the road.
Teach your child to:
-
- Ride on the right side of the road, moving with traffic.
- Ride in a single file when biking with others.
- Come to a complete stop before crossing the street and walk the bike across.
- Stay focused and avoid distracted riding.
- Wear a properly fitted helmet every ride and choose bright clothing to help increase visibility.
If your child rides an e-bike to school, take time to review the rules together before they head out. E-bikes travel faster than traditional bicycles and require extra awareness. Read our article, E-Bike Safety for School, for guidance on e-bike classes, riding safely, understanding local laws, and completing a back-to-school safety check before the first day.
School Bus Safety
The school bus is one of the safest ways for children to travel, but students still need to know how to safely get on and off the bus. Practice bus stop safety with your child before the first day of school.
Teach them to:
- Stand at least 6 feet, or about three giant steps, away from the curb while waiting.
- Wait until the bus comes to a complete stop before approaching.
- If they must cross in front of the bus, walk along the side of the road until they are about 10 feet in front of the bus. They should always be able to see the driver, and the driver should be able to see them.
- Follow the driver’s instructions at all times.
Driving Your Child to School
Back to school means more traffic, crowded school zones, and children crossing streets throughout the day. Slowing down and staying focused helps protect everyone.
When driving near schools:
-
- Put distractions away and give the road your full attention.
- Obey school zone speed limits.
- Follow your school’s drop off and pick up procedures.
- Make eye contact with children before driving through a crosswalk.
- Never pass a school bus while children are loading or unloading.
- Leave plenty of space behind a stopped school bus. The area within 10 feet of the bus is the most dangerous for children entering or exiting.
For more tips for drivers on keeping children safe around schools, read, Back to School, Back to Safety: How Drivers Can Keep Kids Safe.
Teen Drivers
For many families, back to school also means teens are driving themselves or younger siblings to class.
Car crashes remain the leading cause of death for teenagers, largely because new drivers are still gaining experience. Parents play an important role in helping teens build safe driving habits. Help your teen succeed by:
-
- Practicing with them regularly before and after they receive their license.
- Modeling the safe driving behaviors you expect from them.
- Setting clear expectations for seat belt use, speed, distractions, and passengers.
Arizona Chapter National Safety Council also offers the Alive at 25 driver safety program, which helps young drivers recognize risky situations, make better decisions behind the wheel, and develop lifelong defensive driving habits. Learn more and register here.
Safe Habits Last All Year
The back to school season is the perfect time to refresh transportation safety habits for the whole family. A few extra minutes spent practicing walking routes, reviewing bike and bus safety, or slowing down in school zones helps protect children every day.