The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) recognize August as Child Safety Awareness Month. With the calendar page turning to the month of August and school about to begin, more children will soon be out and about on the streets and sidewalks. It is important to stay alert and put safety first.

We are all responsible for the safety of children, especially in and around vehicles. Here are some tips to help everyone stay safe during Child Safety Awareness Month and every day:

Be Alert While Backing Up

  • Walk around your vehicle to check for children playing.
  • Turn off your radio to better hear your surroundings.
  • Keep your foot on the brake until you are sure it’s safe to proceed in reverse.
  • Back out slowly.
  • Teach children to never play in, on, around, or under vehicles.
  • Know your vehicle’s blind spots and look twice before backing up.

Bus Safety

  • Motorists are required to stop when approaching a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing and STOP arms extended. If there is a raised barrier such as a concrete divider or at least five feet of unpaved space separating the lanes of traffic, motorists in the separated lanes do not need to stop.
  • Motorists should be alert and watch for children, especially near schools, bus stops, school buses, and in school parking lots.
  • Instruct your children to wait at a safe distance from the road at bus stops.

Seatbelts and Child Restraints

  • Florida law requires all drivers, front seat passengers, and passengers under the age of 18 to wear seat belts. Make sure your children are buckled in correctly and shoulder belts rest properly across their chest — not their throat.
  • If possible, keep children in the back seat at least through age 12. Front seat air bags can be dangerous to children when they deploy.
  • Florida law requires children four and five years of age to ride in a booster seat.

If you need assistance installing a car seat or aren’t sure if yours is installed correctly, contact your local police department or fire station and make an appointment to have it installed or inspected. Never buy a used or defective car seat.

For more information on Child Safety Awareness Month, visit this page.