Change Back to 'Standard' Time -- Safety Tips To and From School

As we move from Autumn to Winter, the days grow shorter. On October 29th we will be turning our clocks back and it will begin to get darker earlier. Most children will be traveling to and from school in the dark and maybe placed at risk of injuries from automobile accidents while walking or riding their bicycles.

Below are some suggestions to help your child arrive at school and return home safely at the end of the day.

1. They should wear bright clothing such as white, hot pink, fluorescent orange or green so that they can be seen.
2. In the evening they should carry flashlights, wear reflective clothing and have reflectors on their bikes and backpacks so that motorists can see them easier.
3. Children should wear helmets at all times when riding their bicycles. This is the law!
4. Educate them on road safety. Make sure that they are aware of following traffic rules such as stopping at stop signs and traffic lights. Ride with the flow of the traffic, not against it. Teach them to cross at the crosswalks and not in the middle of the block between two parked cars. Motorists may not see them darting out between the cars, this can place them in danger of being hit.

There should be precautions made by the motorists as well.

1. While driving down the street, drive slowly. Children have a tendency to dart out between parked cars.
2. Keep your windshields and headlights clean at all times so that your vision is not obstructed and the headlights are giving off the appropriate amount of light.
3. Do not pass school buses that are stopped. Children are either getting on or off the bus and are not necessarily paying attention to the traffic.