2022 Safety Checklist for Back to School

Fine, Farkash & Parlapiano, P.A. has a wide-reaching campaign to support local parents, youth, and schools called the Hall Pass Initiative. We are focused on bringing much-needed financial support to the schools directly while encouraging our local students to follow their passions and giving them the tools to turn their dreams into reality.

We have selected a handful of local schools, non-profits, and summer programs to support and hope to go bigger and reach further in the coming years. Part of this initiative includes safety events and giveaways to promote local student safety.

We are committed to safety and have prepared this information to help you keep your kids safe this school year. Whether your children walk to school, ride their bikes, or take the bus, it is crucial that they understand how to get there and back safely.

Safety Tips for Pedestrians

If your children walk to school, make sure they use the buddy system. Walk with your child or have your child walk with a friend or older sibling. Before the first day, go on a trial walk and take the route your child will take to school. On the test walk, talk to your child about potential safety hazards and how to avoid them. They should also know the following safety tips:

Always walk on the sidewalk when one is available.
If walking on a street, always walk in the direction of traffic, not against traffic.
Stop and look both ways for cars. Use the left, right, and left methods.
Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street.
Only cross the street at designated crosswalks.

Safety Tips for Bus Riders

One of the most dangerous parts of riding the bus to and from school is getting on and off. These helpful safety tips can prevent significant accidents:

Before school starts, walk with your child to the bus stop and make sure they know which stop is theirs.
Teach your child to use the handrails to get on and off the bus.
Talk to your child about remaining 6 feet away from the curb and giving the bus room to stop and open its doors.
Even when the bus deploys its stop sign and flashing lights, tell your child to look both ways before crossing the street.
When crossing the street, your child should be able to see the bus driver, and the bus driver should be able to see your child.
Never distract the bus driver.

Safety Tips for Bike Riders

Bicycle safety is close to our hearts. In handling auto v. bike crashes and being avid cyclers ourselves, we know the need for auto-drivers to have a higher level of awareness when sharing the road with cyclists. If your child rides their bike to school, make sure they follow these rules:

Ride on the right side of the road with traffic.
If riding with others, ride a single file.
Use designated crosswalks to cross the street and walk your bike across the road.
Wear a properly fitting helmet and safety gear.
Obey all traffic laws, signs, and signals.
Avoid distracted riding.

Before the first day of school, have a test ride with your child to better prepare them. Also, check back on our site periodically as we sometimes have bike helmet giveaways and other safety initiatives.

Safety Tips for Teen Drivers

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that car accidents are the second leading cause of death for teenagers in the U.S. Lay the ground rules for safe driving practices such as:

Limit the number of passengers in your teenager’s car.
Avoid distractions.
Do not use the phone while driving.
Practice with your teen on a regular basis.
Set a good example with your driving behavior.

Safety Tips for Driving Your Children to School

School zones can become crowded with parents picking up and dropping off kids. Keep yourself and your kids safe with these tips:

Slow down and stay alert in school zones.
Never pass a bus loading or unloading students.
Make eye contact with children crossing the street.
Avoid distracted driving.

Contact a Gainesville Personal Injury Lawyer

If your child suffered a common back-to-school injury on the way to or from school, contact an experienced Gainesville injury attorney for help. The team at Fine, Farkash & Parlapiano, P.A. has extensive experience helping those in our community, including schoolchildren who have been injured due to the negligence of others. Contact us for a confidential case evaluation today. Remember, when life changes, we’re there.