Slow down Treasure Coast: Back to school means sharing the road

With the new school year about to begin on the Treasure Coast, it’s the perfect time to review this Back-to-School Safety Checklist for St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties.

It’s the final days of summer on the Treasure Coast. In a few weeks, school will be back in session, which means the return of school buses, more traffic on our roadways, children walking around school zones, and teen drivers rushing to make it before the bell. To help keep everyone safe, we’ve prepared a Back-to-School Safety Checklist for St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties.

1. Safety tips for riding the school bus

Thousands of Treasure Coast students will be taking the bus to and from school. If your child is riding the bus this year, here are a few tips and recommendations to help keep everyone safe.

• Encourage your child to arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes early. Rushing to catch the bus can lead to accidents or missing the bus entirely.
• Remind your child to stand at least 6 feet (or three giant steps) away from the curb.
• If your child must cross the street to catch the bus, teach him or her to walk on the side of the road until they are 10 feet ahead of the bus.
• Remind your child to always stay seated.
• Remind your child to listen to the bus driver’s instructions and to be quiet and respectful.

2. Safety tips for walking to and from school

Will your child be walking to and from school this year? If so, here are a few tips and recommendations and to help keep them safe.

• Walk the route with your child and identify potential hazards, such as busy intersections or blind spots.
• Remind children to always look left, right, and left again before crossing the street, even at marked crosswalks
• Teach your child to use designated crosswalks, obey traffic signals, and never dart out into the street unexpectedly.
• If your child will be walking during dawn or dusk, place reflective strips on his or her backpack.
• If your child has a cellphone, remind them to not be distracted while walking to and from school. This includes watching videos, listening to music, playing games, texting or scrolling on social media.

3. Safety tips for riding a bike to and from school

Is your child riding a bike to and from school? Here are a few recommendations and tips to help keep them safe.

• Ensure your child wears a helmet and that the helmet fits properly.
• Drive or ride the route with your child to point out potential hazards, such as busy intersections, changes in bicycle lanes, and blind spots.
• Make sure the bike is in good condition. Check the brakes and tires.
• Teach your child how to use hand signals when turning.
• Teach your child to use designated crosswalks, always obey traffic signals, and never ride out into the street unexpectedly.
• If your child will be riding during dawn or dusk, consider placing reflective strips on his or her backpack and adding a light to the back and front of the bike.
• If your child has a cellphone, remind them to not be distracted while riding to and from school. This includes listening to music with headphones in, watching videos, playing games, texting or scrolling on social media.

Slow down in neighborhoods and school zones

Back to school is an exciting time for our students. But sadly, it also means more vehicle accidents due to drivers not paying attention to the back-to-school traffic flow. As students return to school in St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties, prepare for more traffic congestion. Give yourself more time in the mornings. Be mindful of school zones and slower speeds. Stay alert for children waiting for buses, walking to and from school, and riding their bikes. We encourage everyone to slow down these next few weeks as students adjust to their new routines.

Injured in an accident in Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach or Okeechobee?

Call Hoskins, Turco, Lloyd & Lloyd immediately at 866-930-6435

If you are involved and/or injured in an accident in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach or Okeechobee, the best thing you can do is call our office and speak with one of our car accident attorneys. Free of charge, we will set-up an in-person or over-the-phone consultation to help you understand your rights and what your next steps should be.

The Treasure Coast Car Accident Attorneys at Hoskins, Turco, Lloyd & Lloyd have over 40 years of experience helping thousands of injury victims and their families recover from serious accidents on the Treasure Coast. We’re experienced, local, and on your side.

Schedule your FREE case review by calling 866-930-6435