Welcome back to another school year! As your children return to the classroom, Public Health – Seattle & King County would like to remind you of some important safety tips for getting to and from school.
For all Drivers:
• Always wear your seatbelt and require all passengers to buckle up, every time, every ride. Seat belts save lives!
• Put your phone away during your drive. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of vehicular crashes in our county. The road deserves your full attention when driving to keep you and your passengers safe.
• Obey school zone speed limits. Slow and steady allows everyone to get to school safely.
• Stop for school busses. Not sure when to stop? Check out this handy guide:
Driving to School:
• Washington state law requires all children under the age of 2 to remain in a rear facing position, but rear facing as long as possible is best practice. Ideally as close to age 4 as possible.
• Children ages 2-4 must use a car seat with a harness (rear or forward facing), according to state law, but best practice is to keep a child harnessed until they can remain sitting properly in a booster seat 100% of the time. Most kids aren’t ready for a booster, either high back or no back boosters, until they are closer to 6 years old.
• State law also requires all children to remain in a booster seat until they are at least 4’9” tall and fit the seatbelt correctly, which is usually around 10-12 for most kids. To fit a seatbelt correctly, your child must do these 5 things:
Kids belong in the back seat! Washington state law requires all children under the age of 13 to ride in the back seat of the car. This protects the child from the front air bag, which can be very dangerous or even deadly in a crash for young kids.
Safe Driving for Teens:
• Emphasize safe driving practices for your teen and communicate consequences, consider using a contract like this one available from the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics
• Talk to your teen about the top risks for car crashes: distracted driving, speeding, late night driving, impairment, and seat belt use. Learn more about these risks at www.t-driver.com
• Have your teen download the You in the Driver’s Seat app, which reinforces and rewards safe driving.
When Kids are Walking or Rolling to School:
• If riding a bike or scooter always wear a properly fitted helmet, bright clothing, and bike lights.
• Look left, right, and left again at all intersections, and obey all stop signs and red lights.
• If walking to school, always walk on the sidewalk, but if there isn’t one, then walk on the left side of the street, as far from cars as possible.
• Make eye contact with people driving before crossing.
• Walk your bike across busy streets.
• Remember! Pay attention! Focus on the road and look out for kids walking or rolling to school.
Resources:
• Meet with a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician for a car seat check. Find a local CPST at cert.safekids.org or attend a local car seat check event.
• Learn more about car seat safety a www.wacarseats.org
• Stay safe while bicycling with these King County resources: Bike helmets and bicycle safety - King County, Washington
• Download a list of free or low-cost bike helmet providers
Stay safe and have a wonderful school year!