The Fight Against Crime: Notes From The Front : Teach Children the Safe Way to Get to School

You’ve bought them new clothes, armed them with a war chest of school supplies and packed their lunches, but as your kids head off to school this month have you ensured that they will get there safely?

If not, Los Angeles County Sheriff Sherman Block says it’s time to sit down and talk to your kids about safe ways to travel to and from school.

“Because a significant number of pedestrian fatalities are school-age children, it is critical that our young ones understand the dangers of street travel and know how to avoid needless tragedies,” according to Block.

Last year, 426 pedestrians were either injured or killed by traffic accidents in the 42 cities patrolled by the Sheriff’s Department, including several in the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys. While some of Block’s suggestions may seem basic, he warns that they bear repeating.

First: Remind your kids to cross the street in designated crosswalks, preferably those controlled by crossing guards.

If a crosswalk is unavailable, children should be advised to cross at a corner and never from between parked cars, which increases the risk that drivers will be unable to see them until it’s too late.

Children should try to walk on sidewalks when possible, or if there is none, on the left side of the street facing oncoming traffic and as far off the roadway as possible, Block advises.

Youngsters should never walk alone or with a stranger, Block said. If a stranger offers a child a car ride, the youngster should be prepared to scream and run for help.

Parents and their children should also choose a specific code word to identify someone sent by the parents to fetch the youngsters from school. The child should be taught to refuse to go with anyone who does not know the code word.

When walking in darkness, children should wear clothing with reflectors. During the daytime, bright clothing improves the odds they’ll be quickly noticed by drivers.

Lastly, very small children should know their full name, address and telephone number in case of an emergency.

Parents of children who catch the bus to school should ensure they get to the bus stop on time, to keep them from being injured by running for a moving bus, according to the National Assn. for Pupil Transportation. Children should also wait for the bus away from the road and should move toward the bus only after it has come to a complete stop and the driver has opened the door.

Some cities and agencies have taken steps of their own to help protect schoolchildren.

The city of Santa Clarita, for example, hired a consultant a few years ago to find the safest routes for elementary and junior high school students to travel to school. The routes include the safest places for children to cross streets and the safest roads are designated.

Meanwhile, the Santa Clarita sheriff’s station began the safe house program, which identifies with a triangle marker more than 600 houses where children can safely seek refuge if they feel endangered.

To qualify, owners must agree to be home during periods when children are traveling to and from school and pass a security screening.

In Los Angeles, police and school officials recently announced plans to expand a similar program, which encourages residents and business owners to watch children on their way to and from school.