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Drive Carefully

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By JOE SEELIG

Highlands Today

Published: August 15, 2008

AVON PARK - With school starting next week, Avon Park Police Chief Matt Doughney reminds people to drive safely and remember that children are returning to the classrooms.

"The parents know, but people who don't have kids may not know the schools are about to reopen," Doughney said. "We want to refresh people's memories - get them back in that, 'Hey, school's going on mode.'"

Amid the excitement of new teachers, classes and friends, it's easy for kids to forget the day-to-day hazards that go along with school attendance - particularly for younger students, said Doughney in a news release.

"Transportation to and from school, whether on the school bus, by foot or by car is a high-risk part of the day, commonly overlooked in a new school year," he wrote.

The city of Avon Park Police Department urges parents to set aside some time with their children to discuss important precautions about school transportation.

"It is an unfortunate, but unsurprising reality, with so many students and buses on the road in the mornings and afternoons throughout the school year, many accidents occur each year in school bus-related accidents," Doughney said.

But many accidents involving school buses could have been prevented, according to safety specialists.

"That's because the majority of these injuries and deaths were not the result of a bus crash, but occurred as students entered and exited a bus," he said.
Avon Park police encouraged families to develop a safety plan, review basic safety rules for walking, biking or riding to school and decide what to do in case of an emergency.

Safety Tips For Bus Riders:

•Line up facing the school bus door, not along the side of the school bus. Don't play in the street while waiting for the school bus.

•Carry your belongings in a backpack or book bag.

•Never reach under a school bus to get anything that has rolled or fallen underneath.

•After getting off the school bus, move immediately onto the sidewalk or road shoulder, out of traffic.

•Wait for a signal from the bus driver before you cross the street.

•Walk at least 10 steps away from the front of the bus so that the bus driver can see you. Never cross the street behind the school bus.

Remind Children To Follow These Tips:

For Walkers Or Bikers:

•Never walk alone - always walk with a buddy.

•Pay attention to all traffic signals and instructions from crossing guards.

•Never cross the street against the light, even if there are no cars coming.

•Wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.

•Walk your bicycle across intersections.

•Wear reflective material to be more visible to street traffic.

For Car Passengers and Drivers:

•Remember most crashes happen close to home.

•Everyone in the car should wear a seat belt. They lower the risk of injury in the event of a crash by 45 percent.

•Motor vehicles are the leading cause of death for people age 15 to 18 years old.

•Remind your teenager to take extra precautions if he or she drives to school, or rides with another teenage driver.

•Make sure babies and young children are in safety seats at all times during a car ride.

The city of Avon Park Police Department has safety tips for many other situations listed on their Web site which can be found at www.avonparkpolice.com .

Contact the Avon Park Police Department at 453-6622 or E-mail admin@avonparkpolice.com

TIPS ONLINE

The city of Avon Park Police Department has safety tips for many situations listed on their Web site: www.avonparkpolice.com

Joe Seelig can be reached at (863) 386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com

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