Back to School Safety in West Virginia: Transportation Safety

Its back to school time in West Virginia! Children in Monongalia, Harrison, Preston, Taylor, Lewis and Upshur counties start school on Thursday, August 22, 2013, while kids in Marion and Randolph counties start school on Monday, August 19, 2013. With kids starting back to school it is important to review important rules to keep our children safe at school and during their travel to and from school.

Over the next few days, we will review rules kids, parents and West Virginia drivers should remember as kids start back to school. Today, we will focus on transportation safety issues.

Whether children walk to school or ride the bus it is important that they take the proper safety precautions. Here are some tips for parents to share with their children to ensure their safety when traveling to school.

Walking to school

· Always walk on a sidewalk if one is available.

· When crossing a street, ensure that no cars are coming; look left-right-left to check this and then cross the street with an adult.

· Walk, don’t run. Running does not give time for drivers to see you when on the street and can make you more likely to fall while crossing the street.

· The safest place to cross the street is at an intersection or street corner.

· If no sidewalk is available, walk facing oncoming traffic.

Riding a bike to school

· Always wear your helmet when riding a bike.

· Ride on the right side of the road or trail in the same direction as other vehicles and always come to a complete stop prior to riding through an intersection.

· Wait for a driver to signal before crossing a street.

· Always make sure that your helmet fits correctly. The helmet should fit low on your forehead and two fingers should fit between your helmet and your eyebrows.

· When you ride your bike, wear bright colors so other drivers can see you.

Riding the bus to school

· When the bus arrives, stand at least three giant steps away from the curb. This is generally about 6 feet.

· Never walk behind the bus.

· If you drop something near the bus, tell the drive before trying to pick the item up so that the bus driver is able to see you.

· While on the bus, never put your head, hands, or arms outside of the window.

· Before you reach your stop, get ready to leave by gathering your things.

· Keep aisles on the bus clear-your backpack or books can be tripping hazards for other riders.

· Always make sure the bus driver can see you when getting off the bus.

· Wait for a signal from the bus driver before crossing in front of the bus.

Following these tips will help to make the transition back to school safer. The attorneys and staff at the Manchin Injury Law Group wish you a great year!