There has been a lot of focus this year on keeping children safe in school. Yet, many parents are more worried about keeping them safe on the way to and from school.
Driving the kids yourself may or may not be an option, but even that is fraught with danger. Drop-off and pick-up areas at schools can be hectic and dangerous for everyone. Since busing is very limited in many areas, that means most kids have to walk to school.
Is it safe for your kids to walk to school on their own?
Traffic is a massive problem for pedestrians of any age. It only takes one driver who is not paying attention or is going too fast to end a life. School zones are supposed to be safe zones for kids, but drivers are often rushing through the area during their commute. They may be tired, trying to get coffee in their system or generally stressed about getting to work.
New York is implementing a series of measures to make the streets safer to travel by foot, bicycle, scooter or skateboard. Some schools and parents have worked together to provide supervision for children traveling to school on foot or bike. The more people that choose these options, the safer the streets will become for all. You should be able to send your kid to school without fearing that a vehicle will knock them down.
Until that time comes, it’s best to make sure that you go over all the important safety measures with your kids. Make sure they know that they should always use crosswalks, travel in a group whenever possible and obey traffic signals. If they are involved in an accident, get help to make sure that you get all of the compensation you deserve.