Whether your kids walk, cycle, ride the bus, or drive to school, you want to be sure they get there safely. One of the first steps to ensure this is to identify the risks for each mode of transport and create a strategy to maximize its safety. 

This guide offers a checklist for kids' safety on their commute to school, including the different options, and may be a worthy read for developing a strategy that best suits your kids.

Walking

Recent studies show that American kids are more inactive today than at any time in history, which is a major contributor to rising cases of obesity among children. Walking to and from school is a great way of introducing exercising to your kid's daily activities. 

Still, it's the least used method of commuting to school for many reasons, including safety and security. This option only works best if the schools are a short distance from home, the neighborhood is safe, and your kids are an appropriate age. 

Ideally, kids under the age of 10 should never walk alone. For older kids, you must keep road safety at their fingertips, such as walking on sidewalks, crossing at designated crossings only, making eye contact when crossing even on designated crossings, and avoiding distraction. 

Cycling

Cycling is as good as walking to incorporate activity into a child's daily schedule. But it comes with increased risks as it may involve having your kids share the road with cars. Where possible, advise your kids to stick to the bike lane. If they must be on the road, ensure they are wearing brightly colored clothes to increase visibility and that they are wearing a helmet at all times.

Lastly and most importantly, ensure your children understand all road rules, such as following traffic signs, riding on the correct side of the road, and indicating terms using their hands. Winter and rainy days increase the chances of an accident, so you may want to have an alternative option in this circumstance. 

Bus Rides

Bus rides are the most common mode of transport for school-going kids, with over 30 percent of students using this option. It is also relatively safer than biking or walking since the child doesn't need to worry about other vehicles on the road, and school bus accidents are rare. Buckfire Law. 

Still, there are some safety tips you may need to teach them. For example, the proper way to get off and on the bus, where to stand when waiting (six feet or three giant steps from the curb), and how to cross the road in front of the bus if necessary. The National Safety Council recommends being 10 feet in front of the bus and locking eyes with the driver before crossing. 

Driving To School

Over 50 percent of all kids are dropped off at or near the school by their parents. When done right, it is the safest way to commute to school. All you will need is to follow the rules you follow every day when on the road, including being mindful of school buses picking up and dropping kids to prevent the chances of causing a bus accident. 

Kids over 16 can legally drive themselves to school, but it may not be such a good idea because of their inexperience, and the high traffic during the morning hours may be more confusing.