Winter Walking Safety Tips:

With the dark days upon us, and snow soon to be building up on the side of the roads, now is a good time to review with your students and family members, some safety guidelines for walking around and in traffic. Here are a few recommendations:

Walk on the Sidewalk

• If they exist, use sidewalks and crosswalks. Avoid walking in traffic where there are no sidewalks or crosswalks. If you have to walk on a road that does not have sidewalks, walk facing the oncoming traffic so that you can see the vehicles driving closest to you.

Cross at Intersections

• Most people are hit by cars when they cross the road at places other than intersections.

Look left, right, and left for traffic before crossing

• Stop at the curb and look left, right, and left again for traffic. Stopping at the curb signals drivers that you intend to cross. Cross in marked crosswalks and obey the signal.

See and Be Seen

• Drivers need to see you to avoid you.

• Stay out of the driver's blind spot.

• Make eye contact with drivers when crossing busy streets.

• Wear bright colors or reflective clothing or a reflective device if you are walking near traffic when it is dark outside (such as on the way to school in the morning).

• Carry a flashlight when walking in the dark.

• Do not let kids play near traffic or cross the street by themselves. Kids are small, and

drivers may not see them if they run into the street.

· Be especially careful in parking lots as people backing out of parking spaces may not be able to see you or a smaller child.

Watch your kids

• Children should not cross streets by themselves or be allowed to play or walk near

traffic. Kids are small, unpredictable, and cannot judge vehicle distances and speeds.

• When kids get older, teach them three things to do before they cross the street:

1) Try to cross at a corner with a traffic light.

2) Stop at the curb.

3) Look left, right, then left again to make sure no cars are coming.

03-2006 Adapted from www.nhtsa.dot.gov

Thanks to Providence Hospital and Safe Kids Alaska, Tudor has been given a white star zipper reflector for each student. We will be working to get these out to the students over the next couple of weeks.

Jeff Chisholm, Tudor School Nurse