Michigan State Police want children to be safe as they return to school.
Whether students walk, take the bus or bike to school, MSP encourages Michigan families to talk with their children and offers tips on how to stay safe and healthy throughout the school year.
Teach your children the safety rules on the school bus and practice with them.
• Go to the bus stop with your child to teach him how to get on and off the bus properly
• Teach your children to stand two meters (or three giant steps) away from the curb
• If your child has to cross the street in front of the bus, teach him to walk to the side of the road until he is 10 feet in front of the bus. Your child and the bus driver should always be able to see each other.
Stay alert and avoid distractions while driving.
• Observe speed limits in school zones and follow your school’s pick-up procedures
• Make eye contact with children crossing the street
• Never drive past a bus that is letting children get on or off
• The area within 10 feet of a school bus is the most dangerous for children. Stop far enough back to allow children to get on and off the bus safely.
Car accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers.
• Teenagers cause accidents because they are inexperienced. Practice with new drivers every week before and after they get their license.
• Set a good example and drive the way your teenager should drive
• Sign the New Driver Deal, an agreement that helps define the expectations of parents and teens
Review your family’s pedestrian safety rules and practice walking to school with your child.
• Walk on the sidewalk if there is one. If you are on a street without a sidewalk, walk facing the direction of traffic.
• Before crossing the street, stop and look left, right and left again to see if there are any cars coming
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing and always cross streets at zebra crossings or intersections.
• Stay alert and avoid distractions while walking
Teach your child the rules of the road and practice riding on the bike path to school.
• Drive on the right side of the road, with traffic and behind each other
• Stop completely before crossing the road; push bicycles across the road
• Stay alert and avoid distractions while driving
• Make sure your child always wears a well-fitting helmet and bright clothing
