Kids Safety
Crosswalk Zones
This sign means you are near a crosswalk in a school zone.
- When school is opening in the morning and closing in the afternoon, the area around the school is a very busy and crowded. There will be many children using the crosswalk.
- Car drivers, bikers and in-line skaters must stop to allow people in the crosswalk to cross the street.
- It is important to look carefully to the left, right and left again if you have to cross the street.
Danger Zones Around a Stopped Bus
Waiting for the Bus
When you are waiting for the school bus, you should wait at the bus stop, and stand well back from the curb.
When you get off the bus:
- Look to the rear of the bus before you step off the bottom step. Our friends at the Pupil Transportation Safety Institute tell us that more and more motorists are passing stopped school buses on the right shoulder – where the door is.
- Take five giant steps straight out the bus door, and out of the danger zone.
- Make sure you have eye contact with the driver, and wait for the driver to signal you before you cross in front of the bus.
- Never go back for anything you have left on the bus.
- Never bend down near or under the bus.
Walking Near School
- When school is opening in the morning and closing in the afternoon, it is a busy and crowded area.
- There are children being dropped off or picked up by both school buses and parents.
- It is important to look carefully to the left, right and left again if you have to cross the street.
- If you must walk through parked traffic, stop and look carefully before stepping out from between vehicles.
- Remember the danger areas around school buses where the driver can’t see you.
- Don’t run between parked cars and buses.
- Don’t run across the street or through a parking lot trying to catch up with your friends.
School Bus Behavior
Your school district probably has a school bus behavior policy. Your bus driver’s number one interest is your safety. He or she will ask you to be on your best behavior.
- It is important to listen to your bus driver in case there are any special instructions for your bus ride.
- Sit quietly in your seat.
- Speak quietly to the other children near you.
Do not jump up and down, fight or tease other passengers or make a lot of noise. These activities can bother your bus driver and he or she will not be able to give proper attention to driving.
These behaviors can bother any driver, including your family or a friend’s family, and make it hard to drive safely.
Clothing Can Get Caught
Jacket and sweatshirt drawstrings, backpack straps, scarves and loose clothing may get caught on the bus handrail or door. This is not only a danger while getting on or off the bus, but could happen any place on the bus.
Safe Walking
Your parents may not allow you to walk near the road by yourself or with your friends yet. It can be very dangerous if you don’t pay careful attention to everything that is going on around you. Your parents will know when you are ready to take this step toward growing up.
There are laws and rules to help keep you safe when you are walking. If your parents do allow you to walk along the side of the road, the most important thing for you to do is to stay out of the road. This is easy if you are walking in an area with sidewalks. In areas where there are no sidewalks, you should walk facing traffic on the shoulder of the road as far from the driving lane as possible.
What about crossing the street? In some areas there are signs, signals and roadway markings to help you cross safely.
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When you cross the street at a corner with a signal light, you should wait for the green light to show in the direction you are walking.
At busy intersections there may be lines on the road called a crosswalk for you to walk between. There may also be special signals to tell you it is okay to cross the street. These are the WALK signal or a picture of a person walking like the ones shown here.
Always look both ways before you cross the street, by looking left, right and left again to make sure no cars are coming or turning into the crosswalk.
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Yellow lights and signs mean caution or that you are coming to a dangerous area. If you are waiting to cross the street, you should not cross if the light is yellow. The light is about to turn red, and cars will enter the intersection.
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Like a yellow traffic light, both of these flashing “DON’T WALK” signals mean to use caution.
- If you are in the street, finish crossing the street.
- If you have not started crossing the street, stay on the curb.
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This sign means you are coming to a crosswalk.
- Crosswalks are two white lines painted on the road which go across the street. You should walk inside the lines.
- Cars, bicycles and in-line skates must stop to allow people in the crosswalk to cross the street.
- When you use the crosswalk to cross the street, before you step into the street, you should look carefully to the left, right and left again to be sure it is safe to cross.
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This sign means you are near a crosswalk by a school.
- On school days this area will be busy when school is opening and closing .
- At this crosswalk, like any other crosswalk, it is important to look carefully to the left, right and left again if you have to cross the street.
- If you must walk through parked traffic, stop and look carefully before stepping out from between vehicles.
- Don’t run between parked cars and buses.
- Remember the danger areas close to school buses where the driver can’t see you. For more information on danger areas near school buses and public buses see.
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When the signal light turns red, stop. If the light is red in the direction you are walking, do not cross the street.
At busy intersections there may be a DON’T WALK signal or a picture of a hand, meaning STOP like the ones shown here.
Wait to cross the street until you see a white signal. Then look carefully to the left, right and left again. If there is no traffic coming, cross the street.
Railroad Safety
Railroad tracks are on private property owned by the railroad company. This means that you may not play, walk, in-line skate, ride a bike or a snowmobile on railroad property. In addition to it being illegal to trespass on railroad property, it is also unsafe.
Use Caution When Crossing Railroad Tracks
- Railroad tracks are uneven. You should not try to bicycle, in-line skate or run when crossing tracks.
- Trains are very large and heavy, and take a long time to stop.
- Sometimes when a train has just passed from one direction, another train may be coming from the opposite direction. You might not notice the second train because of the noise from the first train.
There are places where the railroad tracks cross roads or streets. Many of these railroad crossings are marked with one of the signs or signals below.
This sign means you are coming to a railroad crossing. Always look both ways and listen carefully to be sure a train is not coming from either direction before crossing the tracks.
Many railroad crossings have a gate with flashing lights that close when a train is coming.
- NEVER go around a closed railroad gate.
- NEVER try to get across the track before the train gets there.
Some crossings which don’t have gates may have this sign. When the lights are flashing, a train is coming. You should wait until the train or trains have passed before trying to cross the tracks.