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Back To School In Kansas City: Is My Child Ready To Walk To School Alone?

The new school year has started. You (or your child) may be wondering if your child is old enough to walk himself to school. Before you make this decision, our Kansas City personal injury lawyers suggest that you consider these facts:

• Every year, approximately 630 children are killed and more than 30,000 are injured in pedestrian car crashes.
  Pedestrian injury is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 5 to 14.
• Most child pedestrian accidents occur when the child is on her way to or from school.
• Why are children so vulnerable to pedestrian accidents?
  
• It is difficult for a driver to see small children.
• Children under age 10 don't yet have the skills needed to cross a street safely.
• A child's vision has not fully developed. A child who is looking straight ahead may not be able to see a car coming from the side.
• Children cannot use sounds as a way of locating an object or danger. This means that a child may hear a car, but will not realize that this means a car is coming from the side.
• Children have limited perception of speed and distance. A young child may not be able to tell how far away a car is or how fast it is going.
• Children may not realize that just because they see a driver does not mean the driver can see them.
• Children are impulsive. They may act without thinking and run into the street to pick up a dropped object or to follow a friend.
• Young children are easily distracted and have a limited attention span.
• Children may not have a concept of death; they may not understand that a motor vehicle can cause injury or death.

How can you help your child become a safer pedestrian?

• Children ages 4 and under are at the highest risk for Missouri pedestrian car accident injuries. Never allow a child under four years of age to walk or play outside unsupervised.
• Talk to your child about pedestrian safety. When walking with your child, discuss looking both ways, crossing streets at the corners, and using traffic signals and crosswalks. Discuss the meaning of traffic signs and signals.
• Only cross when the street is clear. Teach your child to "look left, right and left again" before crossing and to continue to look both ways while crossing.
• Always walk facing traffic.
• Always walk, never run, when crossing the street.
• Don't allow a child under age 10 to cross streets alone.

So, should you let your child walk to school?

If your child is over age ten and does not have ADHD, she may be ready to walk to school on her own. Recent research has found that children with ADHD are more likely to become victims of traffic accidents.

If your child will be walking to school without an adult, here are some safety tips:

• Walk with your child the first few times to help her find the most direct route to school with the fewest street crossings.
• Require that your child follow the same route each day.
• Make sure your child is visible when he is walking to school. Dress your child in bright colored clothing. Add reflective patches or stripes to children's jackets and backpacks. You can also get a clip-on bike light for rainy and low-visibility days.
• Require your child to carry a flashlight when walking at night or at dusk.
• Suggest that your child to walk with a friend or an older buddy.

The Kansas City personal injury lawyers at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys wish you and your children a safe school year. For additional back to school tips, read our article, "Back To School in Kansas City: Child Pedestrian Safety Tips For A Safe And Happy School Year".

To discuss a Missouri car accident with our Kansas City personal injury attorneys, contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys at 888-348-2616.

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