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School Sidewalk Safety

School sidewalk safety must be addressed by parents, children, school maintenance staff and crossing guards. Sidewalks and crossings must be properly maintained and signs must be posted. Crossing guards should be established and the importance of sidewalk safety rules should be taught.

  1. Sidewalk Safety

    • To achieve proper sidewalk safety, talk to your children about the need to follow traffic signs and be aware when they walk to school. Children should be alert to traffic even while on a sidewalk---cars can come out of driveways unexpectedly, according to a Mychildsafety.net website on school traffic safety.

    Sidewalk Maintenance

    • To be as safe as possible, school sidewalks require regular maintenance and repairs year round, according to a Federal Highway Administration (FHA) website on sidewalk maintenance.

    Potential Problems

    • According to the FHA, physical problems that create sidewalk safety issues include: uneven or broken pavement; sidewalk surfaces distorted by tree roots and holes; shrub or tree overgrowth; blocked drainage and water accumulation. Uncleared litter, debris, trash, or leaves, and ice or snow on the sidewalk can also cause safety issues.

    Disability Access

    • To achieve school sidewalk safety for those with disabilities, all sidewalks, entrances and approaches to schools must be maintained and accessible, according to FHA and the Department of Transportation regulations contained in the "Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act."

    Crossing Guards

    • Another way to ensure sidewalk safety, according to guidelines developed by Safe Routes Info.org, is to hire adult crossing guards to help children cross streets safely. Crossing guards can also act as sidewalk safety role models, teaching children to learn and obey sidewalk safety rules.

    No Sidewalks

    • If there are no proper sidewalks, children should walk as far in from the street as possible, facing oncoming traffic, according to Mychildsafety.net website on school traffic safety. Children should wear bright colors or have reflective tape on their clothes.

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