Get schooled in back-to-school safety

That rumble you hear as the dog days of August dwindle isn’t a late-summer thunderstorm; it’s the approach of the school year. According to the U.S. Census, in 2023 there were around 46 million U.S. students enrolled in K–12 schools, and the National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates that U.S. families will spend an estimated $41.5 billion in 2024 to make sure those students are properly kitted out. That’s a lot of brand-new book bags and school shoes.

As the start of classes draws near, though, there’s more to think about than school supplies, or whether last year’s gym clothes will still fit (hint: they probably won’t). You should have a plan to ensure that your children stay safe when they’re on their way to school, in class, or headed for home. We’ve put together some tips to help ease your family’s transition from summer freedom to academia.

Gear up

There are some things you can do as a parent, even before school starts, to get you and your kids ready for the upcoming year.

Form communities. There are likely other parents in your neighborhood who are sending their kids to the same school. These are potential ride-sharers, extra sets of watchful eyes, and possible sources of bus buddies or walking partners. See if there are email or social media groups of like-minded families. If you can’t find such a group, consider starting one.
Manage their medication. If your child takes a prescription medication, odds are your child’s school will have protocols in place for dealing with it. Make sure medication information is in your child’s record and that the school has any prescriptions that need to be administered during the school day. This is especially important with epi-pens, asthma inhalers, and other medicines that must be administered immediately when a situation arises.
Do a few dry runs. For the littles, talk about some basic safety rules whether you’re dropping them off, they’re taking the bus, or they’re walking. Drive the route and point out areas that could be dangerous and where the crosswalks are and talk about what path they’ll take to get inside the school.
Help kids, particularly the K–6 age group, learn to be wary walkers. Remind them:
- To pay attention to vehicles and foot traffic around them.
- To stay on sidewalks and well-established paths and cross only at street corners, looking left, right, and left again when they do.
- That drivers aren’t always paying attention the way they should, and you should never assume an oncoming car will stop for you, even if you’re in a clearly marked crosswalk.
- That they should never enter a street from between parked cars. Drivers don’t expect kids to enter the road that way, and they might not be watching.
- To make eye contact. When they see a car approaching — particularly if it’s coming fast — they should try to look the driver in the eye. If the driver seems oblivious, they should stay out of the way until the car has passed.
- To pay attention to safety rules around school buses. Never walk behind the vehicle and stay three giant steps away from the bus’s wheels. Don’t try to board until the bus driver has completely stopped the vehicle, opened the door, and invited you on. And if you drop something next to the bus, either tell the driver before you pick it up or wait for the bus to drive away.
- To look for the helpers if they need something. Any school staff, crossing guards, police officers, etc.

If you’re dealing with teenagers

There is a whole separate set of safety concerns with older children, especially if they’re driving. Remind them:

Driving is a privilege. Cars equal freedom for teens. Remind them that with this new freedom come big responsibilities. Seatbelts should be obligatory, for instance.
Make sure they're rested. Teens that get at least eight hours of sleep are less likely to have an accident than those who don’t.
Remember that many crashes happen when teen drivers are going to and from school. Studies show that having two or more peer passengers in the car more than triples the risk of a fatal crash when a teen is at the wheel.
Stop distracted driving. According to one report, 39 percent of high school students reported texting or emailing while driving during the past month. Make sure your teen isn’t one of them. That means no cell phone conversations (even when using hands-free devices or speakerphone), texting, or using any other mobile device. And — for the driver — while the car’s in motion, eating and drinking is off the menu. For more on teens and distracted driving, you can read our tip sheet here.
Sign an agreement. Consider the use of a parent-teen driver contract to facilitate the early driving learning process.

As a motorist

Mornings and afternoons when you're driving around your neighborhood, it's easy to tell when school is back in session: Kids are everywhere, and they're not always paying attention. Low speed limits and warning signs around schools are there for a reason.

Keep your phone in your pocket. The statistics show it’s worth repeating this often-repeated message here. For more tips on developing safe driving habits, you can read our article here.
Stay especially alert as you back out of driveways or leave garages and parking lots. During fall and winter particularly, children may walk or ride to stops and school in darkness.
If you’re driving in an unfamiliar area watch for school zone signs, school buses, and kids on foot or on bikes.
Watch your speed, especially near schools and bus stops. Assume children are focused on friends and school, not on their environment or vehicle traffic.
Don’t pass that bus! In many states, it’s illegal to drive past a stopped school bus from either direction. Watch for the flashing yellow lights that signal that the bus is preparing to stop and red flashing lights and a fold-out stop sign that signals the bus has stopped, and children are boarding or getting off.

Sources: care.com; healthychildren.org; Insurance Institute for Highway Safety; Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute.

The information included here was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company and its employees make no guarantee of results and assume no liability in connection with any training, materials, suggestions, or information provided. It is the user’s responsibility to confirm compliance with any applicable local, state, or federal regulations. Information obtained from or via Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company should not be used as the basis for legal advice and should be confirmed with alternative sources.

Updated 6/2024