Back to School Safety for Students

Weatherford ISD schools are back in session on Thursday, August 23rd. Whether your child is walking, biking, riding a bus, or driving, we’ve adapted some safety tips for you from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

School Bus Safety

Teach your child to always play it SAFE
Stay five steps away from the curb.
Always wait for the bus driver to tell you when to board.
Face forward after finding a seat on the bus.
Exit the bus when it stops, look left-right-left, and take five steps away from the bus toward the curb.

Walking

Walking to school is great exercise and gets kids ready to face their studies. Teach your child to always:
Use the sidewalk whenever possible, and if there isn’t a sidewalk, walk on the edge of the street facing traffic.
Focus when walking near traffic – this is no time for horseplay.
Use crosswalks whenever they are available to cross the street.
Look left-right-left before crossing any street.

Biking

Kids love riding their bikes and it can be a fun, quick way to get to school. Be sure to do these simple things to keep your bike ride safe:
Always wear a properly fitted helmet and securely fasten the chin strap.
Ride in the same direction as traffic and follow traffic signs and signals.
Stay in the bike lane whenever possible.
Use the sidewalk appropriately and keep an eye out for other pedestrians.
Never use electronics while riding – they are distracting.

Driving

For some teens, back to school also means the new-found freedom of driving. Keep these things in mind when driving to keep your ride safe:
Have a safe driver behind the wheel.
The car shouldn’t move until everyone is buckled up and all doors are closed.
Use appropriate car seats and booster seats for younger passengers.
Finally, remember that the phone stays down when you’re driving!
Observe school zones and speed limits.
Stop for school buses.

Published August 21, 2018 Print