Back-To-School Safety Tips for Kids, Parents and Drivers To Keep in Mind

Ontario Back-To-School Safety Tips 

Almost every day, children are out and about on roads and sidewalks as they make their way to and from school. We all know that kids don't always behave predictably or remember to pay attention to their surroundings, which can make the mornings and afternoons stressful for parents and drivers in general. 

By following some simple back-to-school safety tips and going over the basics with children and teens, we can all work together to ensure the school year is safe and fun for everyone. Here are some key back-to-school safety tips, categorized by the methods children use to get to school and back home. 

Walking and Cycling To School 

Walking or biking to school is an excellent option for children who are old enough and mature enough to handle the responsibility well and follow back-to-school safety tips aimed at reducing the risk of an accident. Here are a few general tips for kids and teens who walk, bike, or skate to and from school on a regular basis.  

Practise Crossing the Street Safely 

As the saying goes, practise makes perfect. It makes sense to start teaching children how to cross the street safely as soon as they're up and running, but it's also an excellent idea to practise with them each summer before school starts to make sure it's fresh in their minds. This includes taking the route to school, using crosswalks, looking both ways before crossing, and making eye contact with drivers when you're waiting to cross so you can be sure they've seen you. Remind your kids to cross calmly and focus on getting to the other side of the street without playing, joking around or looking at their cell phones. 

Plan the Safest Route and Walk It With Your Child 

If your child is biking or walking to school, even if they know the neighbourhood well, a great back-to-school safety tip is to take some time to plan out the best possible route. It should be as direct as possible, but avoid numerous street crossings and potentially hazardous areas like major roads or parking lots. Once you've got the optimal route in mind, walk it with your child at least once before school starts, talking to them as you go about back-to-school safety tips such as using pedestrian signal push buttons at crosswalks.  

Walking or Biking to School With a Friend or Sibling 

It's always safer to walk or bike with a buddy. If your child doesn't have a sibling they can walk with, it's worthwhile to see if there's another kid in your neighbourhood they can buddy up with to stay safe on the way to and from school.  

Make Sure Your Child is Aware of Stranger Danger 

It can be uncomfortable to think about, but it's essential to speak clearly to your children about staying safe around strangers. If a stranger pulls up near them in a car to talk to them, they should stand back from the vehicle, out of arm's reach. Tell kids never to accept a ride or gift from a stranger, no matter what story the stranger tells them. Kids should never go anywhere with a stranger, even if they've asked for help with finding a lost puppy or something similar. Finally, if a stranger tries to physically overpower them, they should scream, kick, flail and do absolutely anything they can to get away and draw attention to themselves from other passersby. 

Wear a Helmet When Cycling, Roller Skating or Skateboarding 

Wearing a helmet is clearly an excellent back-to-school safety measure, but it's also the law that anyone under 18 must wear a properly fitted helmet when biking, skateboarding, roller skating or inline skating.  

Riding the School Bus 

If you ask a group of pre-kindergarten kids what part of school they're most excited about, many of them will mention riding the school bus as the thing they're anticipating the most. School buses are a safe, reliable mode of transportation for children and teens, but it's essential to educate them about the ways they can make the driver's job easier and make the ride safe for everyone. 

Behave Safely at the Bus Stop 

Back-to-school safety on the bus starts before the bus even arrives. Your kid should get to their bus stop with time to spare so they're not rushing, as it's difficult to remember all the safety rules when you're in a hurry. Once they get to the stop, they should stay out of the street and avoid playing with balls or throwing other types of toys and objects. Remind your kids to remain at the stop until the bus arrives and to stand where the driver can see them as the bus draws near, but not to approach the bus until it has come to a complete stop. 

Listen to the Bus Driver's Instructions 

This should go without saying, but when it comes to children, some things bear repeating. Let your kids know that they need to follow any instructions the bus driver gives them to ensure their and everyone else's safety. 

Stay Seated On the Bus 

Anyone who has ever ridden a school bus knows that the number one rule is to stay seated at all times while the bus is in motion. But when you're surrounded by 100 of your closest friends, it's easy to forget and jump up from your seat or try a sneaky maneuver to get to another seat. While you're talking about back-to-school safety, remind them that they need to remain in their seat whenever the bus is moving. They should also take extra care to avoid shouting, throwing items, and any other behaviour that could startle or distract the driver.  

Don't Stick Anything Out the Window 

Throwing anything out of a bus window is very unsafe, as it can hit other cars or cause them to swerve dangerously to avoid items lying on the road. But parents should also talk to kids about how dangerous it can be to just stick something out the window—especially limbs and heads. 

Driving To and From School 

Depending on where you live and your children's capabilities, driving them to and from school might be your best option. Apart from ensuring you have gas and car insurance, here are a few back-to-school safety tips to make the drop-off and pick-up times go as smoothly and safely as possible.  

Drop Off Children At School, Where You Can See Them Go Inside 

During a busy school drop-off, especially for younger kids, try to drop them off in a place where you can watch them until they've entered the building or at least a supervised school playground area and can visually confirm that they are officially under the care of teachers or other school employees and volunteers.  

Don't Make Children Cross the Street to Get In and Out of the Car 

This isn't always possible, but if you can, it's best to drop kids off and pick them up so they don't have to cross the street. The roadways around schools are always incredibly busy at pick-up and drop-off times, so it's ideal if they don't have to go into the street at all. If there's no way to avoid that and no crossing guard is present, consider parking and getting out of your vehicle to escort them across the street.  

Avoid Double Parking at the School 

Finding a parking spot at a school during drop off or pick up can feel next to impossible—at some schools, it is impossible. Regardless, it's best to avoid the temptation to double park. This blocks other cars and makes an already stressful driving situation even worse. Still, double parking also makes it more difficult for children to safely navigate the roadway and see approaching vehicles. It's better to stop a little further away from the school if double parking is the only option for parking next to the school.  

Carpool To and From School If Possible 

Speaking of how busy the streets around a school are in the morning and afternoon, carpooling is a great option to relieve some of that congestion—and it also saves time and gas for parents. If there's another parent, or multiple parents, in your neighbourhood driving their kids to and from school, consider working out a carpool schedule where you take turns driving all the kids in one vehicle.  

Follow the School's Rules for Drop Off and Pick Up 

Your child's school likely has specific rules about what parents should do during drop-off and pick-up times. The school has developed those rules over time because it has seen it all when it comes to unsafe situations involving kids and cars, and it knows the terrain around the school better than anyone. That's why a big back-to-school safety tip is to simply follow the rules laid out by the school and remember that they have the children's best interests at heart. 

Back-To-School Safety For Drivers 

You may not have school-age children yourself, but if you're a driver, you can still benefit from some back-to-school safety tips. Everyone is responsible for taking extra pedestrian safety precautions to avoid harm to others, especially children and other vulnerable people who can't necessarily look out for themselves. Here are some reminders for safe driving during the school day, especially in the morning and afternoons to keep children safe.  

Never Pass a Stopped School Bus 

When a school bus is stopped to let kids on or off, never pass it. You can't know if children are about to enter the street. This is why it's illegal to pass a stopped bus, and drivers who ignore that directive can be hit with huge fines, demerit points, and even jail time for subsequent offences. The bus has a stop sign attached to it with flashing red lights. Stop your vehicle behind the bus until the sign folds in and the lights stop flashing, indicating all children are safely on the bus or on the curb.  

Reduce Speed in School Zones 

It's also required by law for drivers to slow down to the posted speed limit in school zones and playground zones because those areas present a high risk of a child running out into the street. Keep watch for school zone signs and slow down to the posted speed. At the same time, be extra vigilant about your surroundings and ensure you're prepared to stop suddenly. This can include taking extra caution, such as checking blind spots and paying extra attention to traffic and signal lights. Remember the traffic rules apply even when school is not in session, as kids will often come to the school grounds to play after hours.  

Be Patient With Children Who Are Crossing the Street 

Exercise patience when kids are crossing the street in front of you and avoid doing anything, like honking your horn, that could make them nervous or distract them from the task at hand. Ideally, children will always follow the rules and cross at crosswalks when it's their turn, but we don't live in an ideal world. Even if you technically have the right of way or they're not following a rule properly, give them a little extra patience for ins.  

Don't Block the Crosswalk 

Avoid pulling up into the crosswalk when you're stopped at a red light. Children may be unsure of how to get around your vehicle safely, and this could cause them to step out into oncoming traffic and put themselves in serious danger. Leave the crosswalk clear so they can use it as intended and get across the road unharmed.  

Avoid School Zones During School Hours 

When children are dropped off at school in the morning or picked up in the afternoon, the streets around schools are usually very chaotic. Suppose you aren't going to the school but just need to pass by. In that case, going a couple of blocks out of your way to avoid driving straight past the school can save you time and frustration and prevent you from adding to the general chaos that could lead to an unsafe situation.