THE SAFETY ZONE : TODAY’S TIP : Safety Tips for the Start of New School Year

When you are driving near schools or when children are apt to be going to or from school, keep the following traffic tips in mind:

* Be careful at busy intersections near schools. Come to a complete stop at red lights and at intersections with stop signs.

* Parents, follow the school’s rules about loading and unloading passengers. Failing to do so could endanger the children.

* Drive with headlights on (even during the day) to be more visible to children and other drivers.

* Look for indications of children being in the area, such as school safety patrols, adult crossing guards, bicycles, school buses and playgrounds.

* Look carefully between and around parked cars and other objects for signs of children about to dart into the road.

* Practice extra caution in bad weather by increasing your following distance, since it may be more difficult then to see and stop for children.

* Stop for school buses flashing their red lights.

Parents whose children walk to school or to a bus stop can reduce the hazards their children face by planning ahead:

* Discuss and map out the safest route to and from school or the bus stop before school starts.

* Establish safe walking habits, such as using crosswalks correctly, obeying traffic signals, looking left, right, left again and over the shoulder for turning cars before crossing a street, allowing enough time to cross safely and using pedestrian push buttons at signals where they are available.

* Point out possible traffic hazards, such as walking where there are no sidewalks or crossing at intersections without signals.

Latchkey children--kids whose parents are not at home after classes end--are about three times more likely than those supervised by adults to be involved in accidents, engage in delinquent behavior or be victimized, says the National Crime Prevention Council.

Safety tips for these kids:

* Use an answering machine to screen phone calls. If you don’t have one, tell the caller your parent is unavailable and offer to take a message. Don’t say you’re alone or give out any information.

* Keep all doors and windows locked. Don’t open the door to anyone, unless your parent says you can. If someone is delivering a package, tell the deliverer to leave it outside.

* Go to a neighbor’s house if a door is open or your house is in unusual disarray when you arrive home.

* Don’t let people know you will be home alone or display your house key on a chain.

* Avoid watching or reading scary stories that might trigger your imagination and make you feel afraid.

* Call a parent or trusted neighbor if you have questions or are concerned about anything.

And finally, two more tips for parents:

* Don’t put your child’s name on clothing or backpack; an abductor may be able to gain your child’s trust if your child is called by his name.

* Adopt a family code word and change it occasionally. Teach children not to go with anyone unless that person uses the code word.

Automobile Club of Southern California; Glendale Police Department