Dear Parents,
Today your child participated in a Pedestrian Safety Program where s/he learned and practiced safely crossing the street. As part of the New Jersey’s Safe Routes to School program, the Pedestrian Safety presentation provided by EZ Ride aims to teach children the rules and skills to walk safely to and from school and to keep them safe when they are near streets, parking lots and traffic. The best way for children to remember the skills they have learned is to practice them. Please ask your child to share what he or she learned today.
As you walk with your child, remember these safety tips:
- Wear a brightly colored jacket/clothes, bright reflective backpacks/gear to be visible, esp. when it’s dark
- Look for traffic at every driveway and intersection. Be aware of drivers in parked cars that may be getting ready to back out or move
- Obey all traffic signs and signals
- Cross the street safely:
- Stop completely at the curb/edge of the street. Don’t step ofT curb or cross until trai1ic stops
- Look to the left, right, and left again to ensure traffic is stopped or not coming. Remember to also look around as you cross, watching for turning vehicles from the left side
- Listen to make sure no speeding cars or emergency vehicles are coming
- Wave -Make eye contact, wave to drivers who are stopped to ensure you’re seen, then cross
- Students should be very alert, do not use phones. music, or video games while walking
- Walk quickly, don’t run across the street
- If you are crossing and the light turns yellow or red hand begins to flash, quickly finish crossing. If you are on the comer, wait there and do not cross.
Walking is a fun and healthy way to spend time with your children while teaching them a skill that can serve them well throughout life. It takes time and practice for a child to develop the ability to walk to school on their own so practice with them until they are comfortable. It’s recommended that you find the safest way to school with the least number of busy intersections and long crosswalks. Remember- children copy what they see parents do. Please set the right example for their safety and don’t cross midblock, always use crosswalks, don’t text or use headphones while walking, and wait at the comer for the “walk” signal – do not cross on red.
Thank you for your help to make walking to school safer for your kids and the community!
Lisa Lee, SRTS, Coordinator, 201-939-4242 x123. llee@kzride.org
Eric Angeles, Bike & Ped, Asst. Coord., 201-939-4242 x122, eangeles(a)ezride.org
Grant King, Bike & Ped, Asst. Coord., 201-939-4242 x130, gking@ezride.org