Back to school means increased driver, pedestrian safety

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Benjamin Sutton
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  Members of the 366th Fighter Wing safety office wants to remind drivers and pedestrians to be vigilant when children on base go back to school starting August 13.

According to the Department of Transportation, 23 million children ride the school bus each year; many more walk or ride a bicycle.

Whether you are new to base or a have been here for years, it's crucial to practice safe driving especially around crosswalks and busses, school is just a few days from starting.

Most incidents occur when children are approaching or leaving the bus. Bus drivers cannot see in the spots they like to refer to as the danger zone. A danger zone extends 15 feet around the bus and includes the wheels.

Parents are encouraged to have their children wait six feet away from the curb until the bus driver has come to a complete stop and that the bus driver gives them the okay to enter onto the bus.

Students should look out for vehicles when exiting the bus and take five giant steps before crossing.

Those who walk to or from school should walk on the sidewalk and use crosswalks, even if they're in an inconvenient location.

Students should look left, right and then left again before crossing any road to make sure that there are no cars coming and wait for stopped drivers to signal it's safe to cross.

Drivers are cautioned to put smaller children in the back seat. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, children who ride back in the front are 40 percent more likely to be injured during a collision.

Pedestrians under age 10 should be accompanied by an adult or young adult.

Remind children never to walk behind the bus even if it's to retrieve something they dropped in a hurry. If something is dropped around the bus the best plan of action would be to inform the bus driver before walking in the danger zone.

Drivers must also be alert for children who ride the bus. Slowing down while driving during early morning hours and late afternoon hours, could potentially save the lives of children who run out into the street to catch a bus when running late.

Remember to allot yourself an extra couple of minutes to get to work in the mornings in preparation of slowing down in school zones and stopping for school buses. When you see the school bus with red lights flashing and the stop sign out on the bus you must stop.

If you are on a two lane roadway or you are on a multiple lane roadway traveling in the same direction as the bus you must stop.

Children should avoid dark clothing in order to me more visible to drivers during hours of darkness.

With cautious drivers we can make this school year a safe one.

Taking just a few precautions and obeying laws can make the difference between life and death for a child. For more information about traffic laws and about school bus safety, visit the Idaho Transportation Department website at http://itd.idaho.gov or the Air Force Safety Center website at http://www.afsec.af.mil/criticaldaysofsummer/index.asp.