🛑🚸 Back-to-School Safety Tips: Keep Our Kids Safe! 🛑🚸

As the new school year kicks off, it’s essential that we, as a community, prioritize the safety of our children. Whether they’re walking, biking, or riding the bus, here are some critical safety reminders for everyone to keep in mind. 🚦 School Zones: Always reduce your speed in school zones, typically 20 mph or less. Stay alert for children crossing the road, and never use your phone while driving in these areas. Remember, fines are doubled in school zones for speeding or distracted driving. 🚸 Crosswalk Safety: Children are often excited and may run across the street without looking. Please be vigilant, especially near intersections and crosswalks. If a crossing guard is present, follow their instructions carefully. Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing. 🚌 Bus Stops: It’s illegal to pass a school bus when its stop sign is extended and lights are flashing. Be patient and wait until the bus moves before proceeding. Remind children to stand at least three giant steps (six feet) away from the curb while waiting for the bus. 🚴‍♂️ Walking and Biking: If your child walks or bikes to school, ensure they know the safest route and use sidewalks or designated bike lanes. Helmets are essential for biking! Remind them to stop and look both ways at every intersection, even if there’s a green light or walk signal. Visibility is key—bright clothing or reflective gear can help drivers see them more easily. 👀 Stranger Danger: Unfortunately, not everyone has good intentions. Encourage children to stick with friends or in groups when traveling to and from school. Teach them to never accept rides from strangers or share personal information. It's also a good idea to establish a secret code word that only you and your child know, to use in case someone else needs to pick them up unexpectedly. 📱 Stay Connected: Equip your child with a simple way to contact you in case of an emergency, whether it’s a cell phone or a list of important phone numbers. Encourage open communication about their day and anything that made them feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Let’s be proactive in keeping our community safe this school year! These tips can make a big difference in preventing accidents and ensuring that our children arrive at school and back home safely. If you have any additional safety tips or concerns, feel free to share them in the comments below. Stay safe, neighbors, and let’s make this school year a great one for all our kids! 🎒✨ #BackToSchoolSafety #CommunityReminder #StayAlertNeighbors.