Summer’s come to an end, and school is back in session. What exactly does that mean for our driving habits? We can think of two words – care and safety. Although this perfectly describes how we should be driving everyday, it’s even more important when a ton of children are involved. Our team here at Certified Autoplex put together a list of the top three safety tips to follow when driving in school zones.
With so much activity happening in the blocks surrounding a school, it is so important as a driver to slow down and pay careful attention to everything happening around you in order to avoid accidents. Before and after school are especially busy times, but it’s a good idea to be cautious throughout the day and into the evening as children will be out and about all day.
Be sure to become familiar with the school’s specific drop-off and pick-up procedure because this is will increase the overall safety for all students when there is formality. One tip we have is to carpool in order to reduce to amount of cars at the school on any given day.
Safety Tips for Driving in the Fall
As summer turns into fall and the temperatures start to drop, there is a whole new type of driving environment that emerges. Each season brings different dangers to be cautious of, and Fall is no exception to the rule. In this blog we cover everything from avoiding deer to understanding the Autumn Equinox.
Top 3 Back-to-School Safe Driving Tips
One thing to remember about back-to-school driving is that you’re going to be sharing the road with pedestrians, buses and cyclists. The roads are going to be more crowded than what you’ve become used to over the summer months, so there is some readjusting that needs to take place. Allow us to provide you with a few guidelines.
- Share Road with Pedestrians – With children walking to and from school, there will be a lot more activity on the sidewalks and in the crosswalks. First of all, be sure not to block a crosswalk while you wait for a red light or the opportunity to turn. If flashers are blinking in a school zone, but sure to stop at the crosswalk for pedestrians. Always keep an eye out for the crossing guard and never, ever pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.
- Share Road with Buses – It is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that is stopped to either load or unload children. If you end up behind a school bus, be sure to allow yourself more space than you normally would behind another regular vehicle. This way you’ll have more time to stop if the red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended. Never assume a child will follow the law or obey the rules; you’re responsible for your vehicle and the safety of these children at all times.
- Share Road with Bikes – In most situations, cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as other vehicles on the roadways. However, the problem with younger bikers is that they may not fully understand the laws on the road and therefore create hazardous driving conditions for other vehicles. Be sure to always allow at least three feet in between your car and the bike ahead in order to have time to react if needed.
This time of year it is extremely important to brush up on your safe driving habits in order to keep school zones safe for all children. Whether you’re making way for pedestrians, buses or cyclists, the roadways are safest when everyone is working together. Any questions you may have can be directed to our team here at Certified Autoplex.
