It’s almost the time of the year again when kids will be going back to school. With the start of the school year fast approaching, we wanted to take a few moments to discuss some safety tips for those who frequently find themselves traveling in school zones or near school buses.
Things for drivers to remember
School zones often will have significantly lower speed limits when children are present. Be sure to follow posted limits, and also be prepared to stop for crossing guards. Know that when around a school or school bus, children may run into the road at any time from any direction.
When a school bus has displayed its stop sign or has flashing red lights, know that there will soon be children present. Give space to the bus and to other vehicles around you so that the kids traveling to or from the bus have a path and clear line of sight to their surroundings. Only proceed once the sign has been deactivated and the lights turned off.
Concerns for parents to address
Many children may not realize that even though a school bus has its lights flashing, other drivers may not stop when directed to do so. They may continue to drive at their normal rate of speed without stopping, placing themselves, kids leaving or approaching the bus, and other motorists at risk of injury with this behavior. Take the time to tell your children to be sure the roadways are clear and that other drivers have stopped before attempting to cross a street.
Also, for older children who may walk or bike to school, make sure they understand the basics on pedestrian and bicycling safety. Those first few weeks once school starts again can catch motorists off-guard, so the more you can do to help prepare your children to be aware of potentially unsafe drivers, the better chance they may have of avoiding serious injuries caused by these accidents.
