Back-to-School Safety Tips for Motorists and Pedestrians

School has begun for students across Michigan, and with it comes more children on the roadways, riding buses or walking to and from school.

There were 395 school bus crashes that resulted in one fatality and 96 injuries in Southeast Michigan last year, according to the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG). In the last five years, crashes involving school buses resulted in five fatalities.

Pedestrian crashes make up less than one percent of total crashes, but fatalities involving pedestrians are nearly 22 percent of all fatalities. Unfortunately, pedestrian fatalities are rising in Southeast Michigan.   

"As more people are walking as part of a healthy lifestyle and as we create more pedestrian facilities in the region, we need to vigilantly watch out for pedestrians when we're driving. Likewise, pedestrians need to be careful and vigilant when out walking," SEMCOG Executive Director Paul Tait said in a news release. "And as school begins, those pedestrians can be little students eagerly wanting to get to school. We need to watch out for them."

Pedestrian Crash Facts (2008-2012):

1. One in five fatalities involved a pedestrian fatality.
2. Typically, more pedestrian crashes occur on Friday.
3. The highest number of pedestrian crashes occur in October.
4. More pedestrian crashes occur in daylight, followed by dark lighting conditions on roads where street lights are on.

School bus safety tips for motorists and pedestrians:

1. Yellow flashing lights indicate that the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicles.
2. Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate that the bus has stopped and that children are getting on or off. Motorists must stop their cars and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop sign is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before they can move
3. Wait until the driver says it is safe to board the bus.
4. If you have to cross the street in front of the bus, take five "giant steps" out from the front of the bus and make eye contact with the bus driver.
5. Ask the driver for help if you drop something while getting on or off the school bus.

Pedestrian safety tips:

1. Use extreme caution when crossing the street, especially at night.
2. Walk, don't run, when crossing the street.
3. Stand clear of hedges, parked cars, or other obstacles so drivers can see you.
4. Always walk on the sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
5. Watch for cars reversing in parking lots and near on-street parking spaces.
6. Cross streets at marked crosswalks or intersections, if possible.
7. Obey traffic signals such as walk/don't walk signals.
8. Look left-right-left before crossing a street or stepping into traffic.

Motorist safety tips:

1. Watch for pedestrians at all times.
2. Before making a turn, look in all directions for pedestrians crossing.
3. Don't drive distracted or after consuming alcohol or other drugs.
4. For maximum visibility, keep your windshield clean and headlights on.
5. Stop or yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, whether marked or unmarked.
6. Do not block or park in crosswalks.
7. Never pass/overtake a vehicle that is stopped for pedestrians.
8. Always be prepared to stop for pedestrians, especially in the areas where pedestrians are present.

For additional information, visit SEMCOG's Pedestrian Safety and Bicycle and PedestrianTravel Web pages.