Kids are back to school, lets be safe.
Back to school means sharing the road: School days bring congestion: School buses are picking up their passengers, kids on bikes are hurrying to get to school before the bell rings, harried parents are trying to drop their kids off before work. It's never more important for drivers to slow down and pay attention than when kids are present – especially before and after school.
Sharing the road with young pedestrians: Don’t block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light or waiting to make a turn forcing pedestrians to go around you; this could put them in the path of moving traffic.
Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard holding up a stop sign. -
Take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas. -
Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrian.
Sharing the road with school busses: If you're driving behind a bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car. It will give you more time to stop once the yellow lights start flashing. It is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children. -
Never pass a bus from behind – or from either direction if you're on an undivided road – if it is stopped to load or unload children.
If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop.
The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus.
Be alert, children often are unpredictable, and they tend to ignore hazards and take risks.
Sharing the roads with bicyclists: On most roads, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as vehicles but bikes can be hard to see. Children riding bikes create special problems for drivers because usually they are not able to properly determine traffic conditions. The most common cause of collision is a driver turning left in front of a bicyclist.
If you're turning right and a bicyclists is approaching from behind on the right, let the rider go through the intersection first, and always use your turn signals.
Watch for bikes coming from driveways or behind parked cars, Check side mirrors before opening your door.
By exercising a little extra care and caution, drivers and pedestrians can co-exist safely in school zones.
