One Back-to-School Worry for Parents: Traffic Dangers

By Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter

HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Aug. 15, 2022 (HealthDay News) — The risks of faculty site visitors is a serious fear for a lot of dad and mom, a brand new ballot finds.

In truth, a 3rd of greater than 900 dad and mom surveyed final spring mentioned dashing and distracted father or mother drivers are their fundamental concern, and drivers who do not observe the principles ought to be banned from college parking areas.

According to the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health from University of Michigan Health, dad and mom stress that faculty site visitors could be hazardous to youngsters’ security. It’s a scene with rushed drivers, automobiles within the unsuitable spot, and youngsters making an attempt to get by way of the mass of automobiles and buses.

“Many dad and mom dread returning to the day by day problem of getting youngsters to highschool, and one of many prime issues entails youngsters safely strolling by way of automobile and bus site visitors,” Mott Poll co-director Sarah Clark mentioned in a ballot information launch.

Nearly a 3rd of oldsters concern for his or her kid’s security going to and from college, with greater than 25% pondering it doubtless {that a} little one will get damage close to the drop-off space.

Along with dashing and distracted drivers, different security issues included parking in no-parking areas, dropping off youngsters within the unsuitable place, youngsters not staying on sidewalks, and distracted bus drivers.

“Most colleges have a plan to handle site visitors and reduce the necessity for youngsters to stroll in entrance of or between automobiles,” Clark mentioned. “When dad and mom do not observe these guidelines, it disrupts the site visitors movement and should imply different dad and mom should drop off or choose up their little one in the midst of the street. This state of affairs could also be much more harmful if dad and mom are distracted by telephones or in a rush.”

School officers ought to take motion when dad and mom do not obey site visitors guidelines, most dad and mom say. About two-thirds of oldsters say the varsity ought to use cones, gates or different boundaries to direct site visitors. Also, most say cops ought to give warnings or tickets to oldsters who violate site visitors guidelines.

“Parents in our report overwhelmingly need college officers to be extra proactive in addressing college site visitors issues,” Clark mentioned.

Continued

Elementary college youngsters are most weak to site visitors accidents as a result of they’re much less more likely to know when it is protected to cross the road.

“Parents ought to first guarantee they’re constantly following the site visitors guidelines themselves. They may also take steps to organize their little one to journey safely to and from college by ensuring they at all times look each methods for site visitors,” Clark mentioned.

“School officers also needs to do their half to pay attention to any security issues and strictly implement guidelines,” she mentioned. “Ultimately, the accountability for protecting youngsters protected lies with the adults within the college neighborhood, together with dad and mom, bus drivers, college officers and legislation enforcement.”

More info

For extra on college site visitors security, see the U.S. Department of Transportation.

SOURCE: C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, information launch, Aug. 10, 2022

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