Driving Children To School Safely

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death amount children ages 14 and under. Annually, approximately 1,700 children ages 14 and under die in motor vehicle crashes. More than 240,000 are injured as occupants in motor vehicle crashes. Seventy-five percent of motor vehicle crashes occur within in 25 miles of home. In addition, 60% of crashes occur on roads with posted speed limits of 40 miles per hour or less.

Although many parents might think that school zones are one of the safest areas on the road, according to a survey conducted by the National Safe Kids Campaign, two-thirds of drivers speed in school zones. With these disturbing facts in mind, the Staunton Fire Protection District, in conjunction with the National Safe Kids Campaign offer the following safety tips and urges parents to follow them each time they drive children to school or participate in car pools.

•Always use child safety seats and safety belts every time you and your children ride in a vehicle. Remain buckled up until the vehicle has been turned off. Children who have outgrown a convertible seat should graduate to a booster seat until they are 8 years old or 80 pounds.

•Children should remain seated/belted and behave when riding in vehicles. Never move about the vehicle when it is in operation.

•Never put loose or heavy objects in the passenger area of a vehicle that could injure someone if you stopped suddenly or crashed.

•Allow extra time in the driver’s schedule to avoid driving too fast when late.

•Arrange to pick up children at a safe spot away from the congestion of traffic around the school.

•Drop off children in a safe location so they do not have to cross the street.

•Make sure they enter and leave the vehicle on the curb side.

•Remind children to look behind and in front of the vehicle prior to opening the door and exiting the vehicle.

•Remind children to look both ways before crossing the street.

•Remind children to walk in crosswalks and avoid darting from between vehicles or other areas that may conceal them from approaching drivers.