- Plan a walking route to school or the bus stop. Choose the most direct way with the fewest street crossings and, if possible, use intersections with crossing guards. Test the route with your child. Tell him or her to avoid parks, vacant lots, fields, and other places where there aren't many people around.
- Teach children that whether they are walking, biking, or riding a bus to obey all traffic signals, signs, traffic officers, and crossing guards. Remind them to be extra careful in rainy, foggy, or snowy weather.
- It's safer to walk to and from school with someone instead of alone.
- When carpooling, drop off and pick up children as close to school as possible. Don't leave until they have entered the school yard or building.
- Teach your child never to talk to strangers or accept rides or gifts from them. Remind him or her that a stranger is someone you or your child doesn't know well or doesn't trust.
- Make sure children know the houses in the neighborhood that they can go to in an emergency.
- Your child should have enough change to make a phone call and know his or her home phone number, your work number, the number of another adult who can be called if necessary, and how to use 911 for emergencies.
Following these tips should help children get to and from school safely no matter how they travel.