Back to School Safety

With school starting and thousands of children soon waiting at the end of their driveways or on the side of a road for the bus, I wanted to remind everyone to be careful on our public roadways.

When school is in session, drivers should use extra caution, especially near bus stops, schools, playgrounds, and athletic fields.

Safety tips for drivers:

• State law prohibits passing a school bus with its lights flashing. Some school buses are equipped with cameras to record passing drivers.
• Observe the no-passing law and expect the unexpected when traveling near school buses in school driveways.
• Watch for children, especially when driving in neighborhoods with school zones.
• Drive slowly.
• Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood.
• Watch for children playing and gathering near school bus stops.

Safety tips for parents and children:

• Be waiting at your bus stop 5 minutes ahead of the scheduled pick up.
• Wait 10 feet back from the road and wear visible clothing.
• Always wait for the bus driver’s head nod before boarding the bus or crossing the street. They’re watching out for you!
• If you can’t see the driver, then the driver can’t see you. Make visual contact!
• If you drop something in the road, leave it. If it’s important, make sure the bus driver knows you’re about to bend down and possibly disappear from his/her sight.
• If an important item ends up under the bus, do not retrieve it unless the driver gives you permission to do so.
• Board the bus and quickly find a seat.
• Avoid distracting the bus driver for anything other than an emergency.

I hope this information is helpful and I wish you all a safe and successful school year!

HELPFUL RESOURCES

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center also launched their Back to School in 2023 Toolkit, featuring blog posts and articles created by pediatric experts, including:

• Getting Back to School Sleep Schedules Back on Track– by Dr. Lynelle Schneeberg, Director of the Connecticut Children’s Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program
• 6 Ways to Raise Children with a Growth Mindset– by Dr. Preeti Sandhu, Pediatric Psychologist
• Backpack Wearing Do’s and Don’ts– by Dr. Philip Mack, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon