School Zone Safety

School days bring more congestion to the road. Kids on bikes are hurrying to get to class. Buses are picking up their passengers. Parents are in a hurry to drop their kids off before work. It is important to slow down and pay attention to traffic and pedestrians, especially before and after school.

Tips for Safe Driving in School Zones:

• Stay alert, slow down, watch your speed. Not all school zones have the same speed limit.
• Be attentive, no distractions. Put the cell phone down. Driving near children requires your undivided attention. Children may not be paying attention.
• Plan your route accordingly. Try to avoid school zones altogether if possible. If not, plan to utilize the roadway when children are not around. Avoid passing cars in a school zone.
• Watch for pedestrians. Crosswalks near schools are busy before and after school. Go slowly past parked cars. Children tend to dart out from between cars without warning. Keep your eyes moving. Scan for movement.

Tips for Safe Driving Near School Buses:

• Never pass a stopped school bus. It is illegal in all 50 states to pass a stopped school bus that is loading or unloading children. Watch for the flashing lights and the displayed stop sign. This is for either direction of travel.
• Watch for buses that are loading or unloading children. Be prepared to stop. The most dangerous area around a school bus is within a 10-foot radius. When stopping, leave at least this 10-foot area for children as a safe space to enter or exit.
• Always maintain a safe following distance. Keep as much space as possible between your vehicle and the bus in front of you. If you’re in front of the bus, make sure you have a good circle of awareness around your vehicle and enough following distance to avoid slamming on the brakes. The bus driver may be distracted by the passengers and not react in time to avoid a rear end collision.

For more back-to-school safety tips for truck drivers, check out this blog post.