What You Need To Know About Pedestrian and Bus Safety
Going back to school can be an exciting time for children and their parents, but it can also be a dangerous time. During the back-to-school months, emergency departments experience drastic spikes in pedestrian and school bus-related injuries as 22 million students head back to class. Nearly all child-pedestrian accidents are preventable if safety guidelines are followed, and children, parents, and motorist are informed.
1. Children Are the Most Vulnerable Pedestrians
We all know that children tend to be the most vulnerable to injuries and it is because they are exposed to dangers that are beyond their cognitive and sensory development. Children, in general, are impulsive and have not developed crucial judgment skills to estimate how far away a car is and how quickly it is approaching. Children usually do not fully develop and master these skills until they are at least 10 years old.
2. There Really Is Safety In Numbers
It is much easier for motorists to see a group of children than a single child. It is important that we always remind our children to walk with at least one other school mate if they are going to be walking to or from school. Anytime that we can walk our children to the bus stop, to school or from school ourselves decreases the chance of a serious accident even further
3. Safety and Reflective Gear Are A Must
Certain clothing and gear can help children be spotted quicker, easier, and from further away. Bright orange, yellow, and white clothes are helpful and make a child easier to see. If your child stands at a bus stop in hours of poor light, during early morning or late in the day, wearing some sort of reflective gear will decrease the chance of an accident. Many jackets, shoes, book bags, and hats can be found with reflective tape already included. This reflective tape is extremely helpful to motorists. What is interesting is that a vehicle’s headlights can pick up reflective clothing and gear from as far as 500 feet away.
4. Waiting Can Be Very Dangerous
When waiting for the bus to arrive, have your children stand in a safe place away from the street, and not approach the bus until it has come to a complete stop. This is something we all teach our children, though bus accidents still occur occasionally. To help your child remember these safety rules, it might be beneficial to scope out where your child will be waiting for the bus before school starts and designate a spot for your child to stand.
If the unthinkable does happen and your child is injured, hiring the right lawyer can be one of the most important decisions a person makes. But before you hire a lawyer, speak to an insurance adjuster or sign any papers, you owe it to yourself to read The Truth About Lawyers: An Insider’s Guide to Hiring the Best Personal Injury Lawyer for Your Case. This helpful guide was written by Houston personal injury attorney John Neese, and contains the vital information a person needs to find and hire the best injury lawyer for their case. Plus, this guide contains The 5 Trick Questions You Should Ask Any Houston Personal Injury Attorney Before Hiring Them. Visit www.johnneeselaw.com or www.thetruthaboutlawyers.com to order your free copy of The Truth About Lawyers.
Brigette Botkin. Houston Personal Injury Attorneys – The Neese Law Firm, P.C. represents plaintiffs in all types of personal injury and business litigation lawsuits in Houston, Texas and nationwide. The Neese Law Firm, P.C. was founded by attorney D. John Neese, Jr.