Across Southwest Virginia, many children and teenagers are heading back to school for another year. Whether a child is heading back for his or her senior year or beginning kindergarten, now is an appropriate time for children to review some important safety procedures for traveling to and from school.

Riding the Bus
School bus transportation is very safe. In fact, school buses are safer than cars. Even so, there are students who are killed and injured in incidents involving school buses every year. More often than not, these deaths and injuries didn’t occur in a crash, but while students were entering and exiting the bus. For children who ride the bus to and from school, there are some easy safety tips to remember:
·         Have a safe place to wait for the bus, away from traffic and the street.

·         Stay away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop and the driver signals to enter.

·         When being dropped off, exit the bus and walk 10 giant steps away from the bus, and keep a safe distance from the bus at all times.

·         Use the handrail to enter and exit the bus.

·         Stay away from the bus until the driver gives his/her signal that it’s OK to approach.

·         Be aware of the street traffic around the bus stop. Drivers are required to follow certain rules of the road concerning school buses; however, not all do.

Walking or Biking to School
Although it is much less common today, some children either walk or bike to and from school.  Because of minimal supervision, young pedestrians face a wide variety of decisions, creating situations and dangers while walking to and from school. It is just as important in these instances to follow some simple guidelines to ensure a safe journey to and from school. Here are a few basic safety tips to follow:
·         Mind all traffic signals and/or the crossing guard. Never cross the street against a light, even if there is no oncoming traffic visible.

·         Always walk bikes through intersections.

·         Walk/Ride with a buddy.

·         Wear reflective material to be more visible to street traffic.

Riding in a Car
The safety rules for riding in a car to and from school are no different than the rules for every other car trip. It has been found that most traffic accidents occur close to home when drivers are lulled into a false sense of security because of the familiarity of their surroundings. Regardless of the length of the drive, it is critical for children to always wear a safety belt when riding in a car.  Safety belts are by far the best form of protection for passengers in the event of a crash. In addition, younger children should always ride in an appropriate booster or child safety seat.

The beginning of a new school year can be a source of anxiety for both parents and children. In reviewing these simple back-to-school safety tips, some of the anxiety can be alleviated.

Rick Boucher is Congressman for the 9th District of Virginia, which includes the New River Valley. You can catch his Capitol Commentary regularly at newrivervoice.com.