Tom's Blog
It seems like it was just yesterday that school was out for the summer and teachers and kids were celebrating the beginning of FREEDOM, at least for a few months. Believe it or not, the beginning of a NEW school year is right around the corner and it’s time to reintroduce back to school safe driving tips as our children are headed out the door and drivers encounter more congestion on the roads. If you have a
teenage driver, be sure to also share these tips with him/her.
Slow Down for School Zones and Use Caution
Upon entering a school zone, you should immediately slow your speed to reflect the posted 25mph speed limit signs. The speed zones are there for a reason and your reduction in speed is for the protection of kids coming and going from school. BEFORE school starts, pay attention to the locality of the school zones in your travel area, so that you will be prepared to use caution. A child can dart into the road and into the path of your vehicle in a quick second and the results could be shattering.
Share the Road With Buses and Stop for Buses
Shortly, you will be encountering many school buses on the roads while you are traveling to and from work and if you have a teen driver at home, he/she will be encountering the same, traveling to school. Some important factors to keep in mind include, but not limited to the following:
- Allow a greater following distance than you would behind a car which will give you more time to stop once the lights begin to flash
- Never pass a stopped school bus
- Pay attention to the children coming on and off the bus
- Be patient
Watch for Pedestrians
There is a lot of hustle and bustle associated with school zones and crosswalks, both needing to be acknowledged. Always stop and yield to pedestrians who are crossing the crosswalk or intersection. Typically, but not always, there is a school cross guard or police officer that will assist in the safety of pedestrians, but if not you will need to use extreme caution. Be patient and leave in plenty of time to reach your destination in expectation that traffic may be slowed during school hours.
Drop Off Kids at a Safe Area
When dropping off kids at school or picking them up from school, there are many people scurrying around so you must extreme caution. Some helpful hints for safety, include, but not limited to:
- Don’t double park as it blocks visibility for other children and cars
- Don’t let kids out across the street from the school as this means they will have to cross the street
- Try to carpool if possible to reduce the number of vehicles and traffic
Stay Alert and Avoid Distractions
When traveling on the road, it is always necessary to stay focused and alert to what is going on around you. Distractions are all around and while it is tempting to answer that cell phone or reach down for something, it is in your best interest to focus your attention ONLY to the road on which you are traveling and to those around you.
School is truly right around the corner. We wish you and your family a safe school year!
