SACRAMENTO, CALIF., Aug. 4, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Back to School season is a busy and exciting time, a time for fun and learning. It should not be a time for tragedy. As parents prepare to provide their kids with the essential school supplies and textbooks, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) encourages them to educate themselves and their children about proper safety precautions before heading back to the classroom. August is designated as Back to School Safety Month, with the aim of promoting traffic safety among parents and children of all ages who walk, ride their bicycle, take the bus, or are driven to and from school.
"Having a conversation with kids about road safety and personal safety rules can have a huge impact in keeping them safe, especially during the first week of school," said OTS Director Rhonda Craft. "Remind your kids how important safety is to you and them, and that they need to be careful and aware every time they leave the house."
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 95 children under the age of 14 were killed in traffic related crashes in California in 2012. NHTSA also reports that an average of three children ages 14 and younger were killed and 462 were injured every day in the United States in motor vehicle crashes during that same year. The following safe walking, bicycling and driving practices can only be effective if parents teach their kids early and often, and set good examples themselves:
Reminders for Parents and Guardians:
Reminders for Kids:
"Following these tips will help ensure that you and your children remain as safe as possible not only in the beginning of the school season, but throughout the rest of year," said Craft. "Children are our most valuable and precious possessions – let's provide them with the knowledge they'll need to keep themselves safe."
Additional child safety tips and information about other OTS efforts can be found at www.ots.ca.gov or via facebook.com/CaliforniaOTS and twitter.com/OTS_CA.