The Mandan Police Department advises parents to teach kids safe ways to go to and from school

MANDAN, ND ( KXNET ) — It’s that time again for kids to head back to school!

But whether your kid is starting kindergarten or finishing their last year of high school, the Mandan Police Department reminds families that traveling to school always comes with a calculated risk and to reduce that risk, they recommend the following safety procedures:

If your children walk to school, remind your kids to always walk on the sidewalk if it’s available. And if there’s no sidewalk, they should walk facing the traffic. If they’re attempting to cross the street, the old adage of “look both ways” rings true, and they should make eye contact with drivers before they cross.

If your kids ride bikes to school, remind them to always ride on the right side of the road with traffic — never as a group but in single file. When they have to cross the street on their bikes, they should stop before the crossing and then walk their bikes across the street. And of course, they should wear a fitted helmet and bright clothing, especially if they’re riding at dawn or dusk.

And finally, if your kids take a bus to school, they should stand six feet away from the curb. If they have to cross the street in front of the bus, they should walk on the side of the road until they’re 10 feet ahead of the bus. Your kids and the bus driver should be able to see each other.

If your kids have never ridden a bus to school, the Mandan Police Department recommends that you should teach them how to properly get on and off the bus at least once.

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