Courier Editorial Board
August 21, 2008 12:22 am
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Our kids are back in school this week, and we all need to watch out for them. We can’t be reminded enough of the dangers students face going to and from school.
And, it’s not just the students who need to be reminded of safety.
Parents and all vehicle drivers need to remember to pay attention when driving in school areas, especially around 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily, the times when students are going to school and getting out of school.
Students are crossing streets or highways. School bus drivers watch out for their riders, and drivers need to heed the bus signs. When the school bus lights are flashing, slow down, stop and wait until the signals go out and students are safely on sidewalks or in their driveways.
More than 4,400 students attend Ottumwa’s public schools. Add on the students who attend Ottumwa Christian School and Seton Catholic School, and you have thousands of students in Ottumwa all needing our help in remaining safe. Plus, all the students throughout southern Iowa.
To help all of us during this month of the new 2008-09 school year, following are several tips from the Teachers’ Insurance Plan’s Safety Information Center.
Tips for walking or biking to school
• Walk with a friend.
• Pay attention to all traffic signals and crossing guards. Never cross the street against a stop light.
• Cross only at crosswalks, and never run into the street from between parked cars.
• Look left, right, and over your shoulder for traffic before crossing a street, and continue to check each direction.
• Make sure drivers see you by making eye contact with them.
• If riding a bicycle, scooter or skateboard to school, always wear a helmet and ride in the same direction as traffic. Walk your bike if crossing a street.
Tips for school bus riders
• Do not play in the street while waiting for the bus.
• Line up facing the bus, not along side it.
• After getting off the bus, move out of traffic.
• Wait for the bus driver to signal you to cross the street. Walk away from the front of the bus so the driver can see you.
Tips for parents and drivers
• Everyone should wear a seatbelt, and children should be in age- and size-appropriate car seats.
• Stay focused on driving and don’t be distracted by kids in the car or with other activities.
• Slow down in school zones. Driving just 5 mph over the speed limit increases both the risk of hitting a child and the severity of any injuries.
• You never know if children crossing the street are paying attention, so remain stopped until the child has crossed not only your lane of traffic, but the adjacent lane as well.
• Never pass a vehicle that has stopped at a crosswalk, as they may be waiting for someone to cross.
• Do not pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing, even if it is on the other side of the street.
• Use extra care in areas where children may enter the road from between parked vehicles or other things that block drivers’ views of the road. And, watch out for bicycles.
For more information on driver and passenger safety, go to the Web site, www.teachers.com/safety.
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