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Summer vacation in Southwest Florida is almost over, and August is a busy month. Public schools in Charlotte, Collier, and Lee Counties start on Wednesday, August 10, 2022. FGCU and other colleges also start in August. This means there will be more traffic that can cause congestion, frayed nerves, and accidents.

"We at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. would like to share with drivers some tips from the National Safety Council (NSC) to keep everyone safe during this time whether students walk, ride the bus, ride their bicycles, or are driven,” said Fort Myers Child Injury Attorney Randall Spivey.

Walkers

Review your family's walking safety rules and practice walking to school with your child.

• Walk on the sidewalk, if one is available; when on a street with no sidewalk, walk facing the traffic
• Before you cross the street, stop and look left, right, and left again to see if cars are coming
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing and always cross streets at crosswalks or intersections
• Stay alert and avoid distracted walking

Bus Riders

Teach your children school bus safety rules and practice with them.

• Go to the bus stop with your child to teach them the proper way to get on and off the bus
• Teach your children to stand 6 feet (or three giant steps) away from the curb
• If your child must cross the street in front of the bus, teach him or her to walk on the side of the road until they are 10 feet ahead of the bus; your child and the bus driver should always be able to see each other
• Get the facts on bus safety from Injury Facts

Bike Riders

Teach your child the rules of the road and practice riding the bike route to school with your child.

• Ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, and in a single file
• Come to a complete stop before crossing the street; walk bikes across the street
• Stay alert and avoid distracted riding
• Make sure your child always wears a properly fitted helmet and bright clothing

Driving Your Child to School

Stay alert and avoid distracted driving.

• Obey school zone speed limits and follow your school's drop-off procedure
• Make eye contact with children who are crossing the street
• Never pass a bus loading or unloading children
• The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them to safely enter and exit the bus

Teen Drivers

Car crashes are the No. 1 cause of death for teens. Fortunately, there is something we can do.

• Teens crash because they are inexperienced; practice with new drivers every week, before and after they get their license
• Set a good example; drive the way you want your teen to drive
• Sign the New Driver Deal, an agreement that helps define expectations for parents and teens 

"Please join me and our experienced legal team in striving for 'no accidents’ during this SW Florida school season. We can start this effort by following the recommendations from the NSC,” urges Attorney Spivey. “However, should you or a loved one be injured in an accident please contact me at 239.337.7483, toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or online at SpiveyLaw.com.”