In just a few days, Putnam City students will again be walking through neighborhoods and crossing streets on their way to school. For parents, it’s a good time to review with their children the basics of pedestrian safety, says Drew Eichelberger, principal of Western Oaks Elementary School.
The first thing parents should do, Eichelberger says, is get a handle the route your child will walk to and from school. Walk the route with your child several times before and after school. Use these walks to point out possible traffic hazards and practice safe walking habits.
Eichelberger says parents should teach their children rules for wise walkers, including:
• When sidewalks are available, use them.
• If you need to cross a street, use a crosswalk if one is available.
• At crosswalks, even crosswalks with stoplights, make eye contact with the driver before you cross.
• If there is a light, cross only when the sign says to "walk." If it says "don't walk" before you get across, make eye contact with drivers and quickly walk to the other side. Do not stop in the middle.
• If there is no crosswalk, cross at street corners. Go straight across the street, not in a diagonal line.
• Do not cross behind or between cars parked cars.
• Stop at the curb. Look both directions before you cross the street. Look one way, look the other way, then look back the other way again. If there are no cars, cross. If there is a car, wait.
• Be extra careful in bad weather. It's harder for drivers to see and harder to slow down or stop.
It’s not only children who need to be wise walkers, Eichelberger says.
“Young children learn by watching adults. Set a good example. Practice pedestrian safety, even if your child is not with you. Someone else's child may be watching you and follow your example,” he says.