SACRAMENTO - The Office of Transportation Safety issued a press release urging parents, students and drivers to be extra careful now that school is back in session.
On the list of things parents are encouraged to enforce is no use of a mobile phone while walking, biking and driving.
Chris Cochran is the OTS Assistant Director of Marketing and Public Affairs.
“Cell phone use, and especially texting, game playing, Facebook checking or anything else that takes both your mind and your eyes off of what you are doing can be dangerous. That can apply to anyone on the streets – drivers, motorcycle riders, bicyclers, even walkers,” said Cochran.
According to Cochran emergency rooms are receiving more and more patients, of every age, coming in with serious injuries, and even fatalities, who were so intently engaged with their mobile phones while walking that they ran into poles, fell off curbs, or even walked into busy traffic.
OTS Director Christopher J. Murphy stresses the importance of parents teaching children the safety rules. “If at all possible, parents should walk or ride with kids to school before that first day, teaching them the safest routes and their road safety and personal safety rules,” said Murphy.
Below are some of the safety tips:
Walking - watch what is going on around you, do not text while you are walking. Use crosswalks and cross at intersections with lights; if there are no sidewalks, go against traffic so you can see what is happening.
Biking - always watch what is going on around you, no texting; wear a helmet; obey the traffic rules.
Drivers - What’s good for the kids are good for drivers too – no cell phone talking or texting while driving. Watch what’s going on around you. And make sure your kids won’t be calling you while you are driving.
To review all safety tips, go to: http://www.ots.ca.gov/
Parent Resources
- Banana Moments
- Smart Money for Smart Schools
- Office of Transportation Safety Back to School tips
- ImpactTeenDrivers
(Ref: 506-e)
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