How to make getting to school safer

All parents and teachers want their kids to be safe and happy at school. Making sure children travel safely to and from school is an important first step in creating a positive learning environment for children.

Here are four ways to make travelling to school safer for children.

Clearly mark waiting areas around bus shelters

Many children travel to and from school by bus. Having a clearly defined waiting area around bus stops and bus shelters will help students know where it is safe to wait. Ensure these waiting areas are a safe distance from the road and other potential safety risks.

Installing or upgrading bus shelters can help delineate safe waiting areas for children. Choose bus shelters that are large, bright and durable. In case of wet weather, these bus shelters will not only keep kids dry, but are also highly visible to on-coming cars, helping mitigate any potential road accidents in grey weather.

 Have a policy around bicycle and scooter usage

Cycling and riding to school are great ways for kids to keep active, as well as teaching environmentally-friendly behaviour.

In order to avoid any potential road accidents, be sure to implement clear rules around travelling to school via bike or scooter. These could include: mandatory helmet usage, having a designated space with bike and scooter racks for children to store bikes and scooters safely, and ensuring children stay on the footpath at all times.

 Supervise pedestrian crossings

Walking to school is another great way for kids to be active while travelling to school. However, walking near the road does pose some safety risks. Make sure children stick to the footpaths and pedestrian crossings. Appoint a staff member to supervise pedestrian crossings during school arrival and departure times to make sure children cross safely.

Reinforce desired behaviours with school safety campaigns

The efficacy of all safe-travel initiatives come down to how well the school can communicate these policies to students, parents and teachers alike. Apart from educating children about travelling to school safely in the classroom, it’s important that teachers and parents are on board, too. Make regular announcements around safe-travel initiatives in school newsletters at assemblies, as well as in staff meetings.

Following these four simple tips can help make travelling to school safer for kids. After all, children’s safety at school is everyone’s responsibility.

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