Back to School Safety Tips from Eden Prairie Police

With Eden Prairie students are officially back to school, the Eden Prairie Police Department is reminding students and drivers to be safe.

The following is the latest department blog post:

School starts for Eden Prairie students on Tuesday, September 3 which means there will be hundreds of kids biking and walking to school or the bus stop in neighborhoods throughout the city. In order to keep these kids safe, motorists need to do their part by being extra aware, particularly around bus stops as children are entering and exiting the bus.

As a reminder, drivers in both directions must stop at least 20 feet away from a stopped school bus when the stop arm is extended. Failure to do so not only puts the safety of kids in jeopardy and may also result in a fine.

If you have a child who walks to school, the National Safety Council urges you to share the following tips with your children.

Tips for kids who walk to school:

• Always walk on the sidewalk if one is available. If no sidewalk is available, walk facing traffic.
• Before stepping off the curb to cross the streets, stop and look all ways to see if cars are coming. Always look left-right-left before crossing the street.
• The safest place to cross is at a street corner or intersection.
• Walk, don’t run. This gives time for drivers to see a child before they enter the roadway.

Tips for kids who ride a bike to school:

• Always wear a bike helmet.
• Ride on the right side of the road in a single file line in the same direction as other vehicles.
• Come to a complete stop before crossing streets.
• Learn the rules of the road including hand signals.

Tips for kids who ride the bus to school:

• When the bus arrives stand at least six feet away from the curb.
• If you have to cross the street in front of the bus, walk on the sidewalk or along the road until you are ten feet ahead of the bus and then cross the street.
• Never walk behind the bus.
• If you drop something near the bus, tell the bus driver. Never try to pick it up first because the driver may not be able to see you.