May

DRIVING TIPS Back to School Safety

Time to keep an eye out for students.

Pedestrian-vehicle injuries are a leading cause of death for children ages 5 to 14. Now that kids are back from summer camp and schools are preparing to re-open, school buses will soon be cruising the streets in full-force. That means drivers need to step-up safety around school zones, crosswalks, bus stops, and anywhere children may be playing outside. Here are some back-to-school tips:

Be familiar with school zones. Get in the habit of noticing where school zones and crosswalks are located on routes that you normally take. Accidents, including pedestrian accidents, are far more likely to occur on familiar routes that drivers know well—and thus are overly comfortable with.

Stop for school bus lights. Always stop for school buses with flashing red lights. Drivers approaching the bus must come to a full stop for the duration that the red lights remain on. Some school buses have additional flashing yellow lights to indicate that drivers may proceed with extreme caution. Bus drivers often engage the flashing yellow lights before the flashing red lights, signaling that they are about to stop.

Obey crossing guards. School crossing guards have received police training and are entrusted with the same authority as local traffic police in most areas, so disobeying a crossing guard could get you in some serious trouble. Remember that driving on major streets where crossing guards and crosswalks are observed is safer than taking those “short-cut” side streets where children may be unattended.

Anticipate the worst. The speed and distance of oncoming cars is difficult for young children to judge. Always anticipate the chance that a small child may run in front of you by slowing down, remaining vigilant, and preparing to brake.

Be careful around parked vehicles. Be especially careful in areas with parked vehicles on the side of the road. Children waiting to cross may be especially difficult to see behind parked sport-utility vehicles.

Headlights on. Drive with headlights on in areas with children and pedestrians. The AAA says that the use of headlights can reduce pedestrian accidents by about 25 percent.

Avoid using cell phones when driving. Cell phones are a known distraction. Never use hand-held cell phones while driving, and never use hands-free cell phones while driving in school zones or areas with children. The same goes for activities that distract the driver, such as changing CDs, looking over notes, and reading maps.

Avoid reversing. Try to avoid reversing your vehicle in areas with children. It’s more difficult to be alert to small children and attend to your car’s blind spots while reversing.

Don’t speed. Remember that the speed limit in most school zones during school times or when children are present is 25 miles per hour. Bad weather, or areas with limited visibility, will require a lower speed. Your visibility to pedestrians, your ability to see them, and your stopping distance all may be greatly impaired by weather and road conditions, so follow common sense and slow down.

Don’t honk at pedestrians or bicyclists. Honking at a child, whether on foot or on a bicycle, should be reserved for emergencies. The noise could cause a startled child to trip, fall, or swerve and be in a dangerous position for other approaching traffic.