Op-Ed: Schools Open Drive Carefully Around Bicyclists & Pedestrians

Every Fall, over 1.5 million students head back to schools across Michigan. With many students walking or biking to school, drivers are urged to be especially vigilant for pedestrians and bicyclists before and after school hours. According to a recent research publication by the Michigan Department of Transportation, entitled Sharing the Road: Optimizing Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety and Vehicle Mobility, approximately 27% of fatal and serious bicycle crashes take place between 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm. The report also highlights that youth (ages 5-15) involvement in bicycle crashes in Michigan is higher than national statistics. The 5-15 year old age group represented about 1/3 of the total bicycle crashes that occurred in Michigan between 2005-2010. As [a parent, and] a member of the League of Michigan Bicyclists (LMB), I find these numbers startling. Our youth have many obstacles to success. Getting to school safely by foot or bicycle shouldnt be one of those. Physically active children tend to have better academic achievement, enhanced concentration and better classroom behavior. Here are several recommendations from LMB regarding ways drivers can help to keep kids safe: Slow down. Speed limits in school zones are reduced for a reason. A pedestrian or bicyclist struck by a vehicle traveling at 25 mph is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling just 10 mph faster. Come to a complete stop. Research shows that more than one-third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods. Always come to a complete stop, checking carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding. Eliminate distractions. Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of crashing. Children can be quick, sometimes crossing roads unexpectedly or emerging suddenly between parked cars. Reduce risk by not using your cell phone or eating while driving. Reverse responsibly. Every vehicle has blind spots. Check for children on the sidewalk, in the driveway and around your vehicle before slowly backing up. Teach your children to never play in, under, or around vehicles. Watch for bicycles. Children on bikes are often inexperienced, unsteady and unpredictable. Slow down and allow at least five feet of passing distance between your vehicle and a bicyclist. If your child rides a bicycle to school, require that he or she wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet and to always follow the rules of the road. Talk to your teen. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States, and more than one in four fatal crashes involving teen drivers occur during the after-school hours of 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more share the road tips, please visit www.LMB.org/share. Parents, teachers, and students are encouraged to download or request a copy of What Every Michigan Bicyclist Must Know at www.LMB.org/wembmk.