As everyone wakes up from the lull of summer break, it may take time to get back to a routine: days of slumber are replaced with early mornings, long stretches without a schedule are giving way to adhering to deadlines. The hours of not caring are now spent in school activities. Everyone is waking up and adjusting to a new fall routine. As people get into their cars and take to the roads during the rush hours, they also have to get used to arriving to school on time – something that has not been an issue in a few months, and struggling with red lights and other drivers on the road. The time we spent idling is now time that we spend losing our patience.
As people grow accustomed, once again, to structure in their lives, they should also pay attention to safety – both driver safety and pedestrian safety – in South Florida. School represents years of possibility and growth and personal injury can put a swift end to these.
Broward County Risk Management, Florida Department of Transportation and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have offered a series of health and safety tips (a complete listing is here: http://www.broward.org/RISKMANAGEMENT/Pages/BacktoSchoolTrafficSafetyTips.aspx) that place caution at the head of the class – this is among the most critical times of year, when transportation-related injuries are at their peak.
First of all, for youngsters: When walking to school, it’s best to walk in groups. Parents should make sure children are walking on a safe route and that there is a well-trained cross guard at the intersections. Remember that small children are impulsive and not all children should be walking to school – know your child’s ability to walk to school safely and accompany them if there is a question on whether they can handle the route without supervision. Bright-colored clothing is always best, to make the child more visible to drivers.
Is your child riding a bicycle? Bicycle injuries in South Florida are among the highest in the nation because of the number of impaired drivers – senior citizens, tourists unfamiliar with the area – on the roads here. Adding to the problems are the high number of distracted driving incidents caused by cell phone use behind the wheel.
Your child should always wear a bicycle helmet and ride on the right side of the road, in the same direction as traffic. Teach them the appropriate hand signals and to adhere to traffic signs and traffic lights. Make sure they know the safest routes when traveling to and from school. Make sure your children are not cell-phone obsessed when on their bicycles – or walking. Keep the cell phone in a pocket or in the book bag.
If your child takes a school bus, tell him/her to always wait for the bus to stop before approaching it and never move around the bus. Always check both sides of the street to make sure there is no traffic before crossing and make sure to always remain in clear view of the bus driver. Additionally, according to the safety tips offered on broward.org: “Children should always board and exit the bus at designated locations that provide safe access to the bus or to the school building.”
Motorists traveling to, from, and around schools should abide strictly by rules and regulations. Always be alert for school zones that require motorists to reduce their speeds at certain times of the day. With school buses re-entering the roadways, keep an eye out for their red flashing lights and an extended stop arm. This means the school bus driver is loading or unloading passengers. State law requires all motorists to stop while the stop arm is extended.
Always watch for children crossing the street, especially where there might not be sidewalks. Children have a way of darting into the street – reduce your speed when you see children walking along the road or on sidewalks or waiting at a bus stop.
Drivers should always use caution when parking or backing up in a school parking lot, to make sure there are no children nearby who could run or walk or bike into the path of the motor vehicle. Of course, drivers and passengers should always wear seat belts and never text or talk on the cell phone while driving.
School is the time of year when goals can be achieved, and hopes and dreams can be fulfilled. Don’t let these possibilities snap out of existence. Personal injury can render a child unable to pursue those activities he/she loves for a long time or, perhaps, forever. Those who have suffered personal injury from a motor vehicle crash should seek medical attention and immediately contact a personal injury litigation attorney in Fort Lauderdale. Keep school days in South Florida accident-free.
