Essential back-to-school safety tips for parents and students

Published on August 07, 2024

As students gear up for the new school year, ensuring safe travel to and from school is crucial for both parents and children. This Safe Routes to School article offers essential tips to make these daily journeys safer, healthier and more fun. By following these guidelines, parents and students can contribute to a safer community and enhance overall well-being!

Tips for Students

1. Wear a Helmet: For those biking, always wear a properly fitted helmet. This simple safety measure can greatly reduce the risk of head injuries in an accident. It is recommended that you replace your helmet every 3-5 years or immediately after a crash.
2. Use Crosswalks: Always cross streets at designated crosswalks and obey traffic signals. Look left, right and left again before crossing to ensure it’s safe.
3. Listen to Crossing Guards: School Crossing Guards are there to assist students with crossing busier streets and play a crucial role in educating children on safe walking and biking habits.
4. Follow the Rules of the Road: Whether walking or biking, it’s important to know and follow traffic rules. This includes using hand signals, stopping at traffic signals and stop signs and being aware of cars and other bicyclists and pedestrians. Bicyclists should aim to use bike lanes whenever possible.
5. Stay Alert: Avoid distractions such as phones or headphones while walking or biking. Staying alert to your surroundings helps you notice any potential hazards.
6. Walk or Bike with Friends: Traveling in groups can be not only more enjoyable but also safer. There’s strength in numbers and having friends along can make the journey more pleasant and secure.

Tips for Parents

1. Plan the route: Walk or bike the route to school with your child before the school year starts. Identify safe spots to cross, areas to avoid (such as busy streets) and potential hazards. Review the City of Menlo Park’s Safe Routes to School maps to help with this.
2. Create a safety plan: Establish a plan with your child for what to do in case of an emergency. Make sure they know who to contact and where to go if something unexpected happens. SRTS Community Supporters businesses, for example, provide safe waiting spaces for students.
3. Review the Menlo Park Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Handbook(PDF, 2MB): This handbook provides a deeper dive into keeping you and your children safe while walking, biking, or driving. It contains the rules of the road, safety tips and examples from local streets in the city. 
4. Supervise Younger Children: For younger students, walking or biking to school with an adult or older sibling is advisable. As they grow older and more confident, gradually allow them more independence.
5. Encourage Active Travel: Whenever possible, encourage your child to walk or bike to school. This not only promotes physical activity but also reduces traffic congestion around the school, making it safer for everyone.
6. Supervise Younger Children: For younger students, walking or biking to school with an adult or older sibling is advisable. As they grow older and more confident, gradually allow them more independence.
Encourage Active Travel: Whenever possible, encourage your child to walk or bike to school. This not only promotes physical activity but also reduces traffic congestion around the school, making it safer for everyone. 
7. Supervise Younger Children: For younger students, walking or biking to school with an adult or older sibling is advisable. As they grow older and more confident, gradually allow them more independence.
Encourage Active Travel: Whenever possible, encourage your child to walk or bike to school. This not only promotes physical activity but also reduces traffic congestion around the school, making it safer for everyone. 
8. Set a Good Example: Children often imitate their parents. Follow traffic rules and safety guidelines to set a positive example for your child.
9. Get Involved: Consider joining Menlo Park’s Safe Routes to School Task Force, which meets quarterly to discuss challenges around walking and biking to school. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Safe Routes to School Coordinator Andre-Anne Cadieux at SafeRoutestoSchool@menlopark.gov.

By following these tips, both parents and students can foster a safer, healthier and more enjoyable journey to school. These practices not only ensure safety but also foster a sense of community and independence among students. Let’s make this school year the safest yet by prioritizing safe travel habits for our children!