At InfraStripe, safety is one of our core values. That means we factor safety into every conversation we have and every decision we make.
So this month, as schools reopen and roads fill up with school buses, we’d like to review the basics of safe driving in school zones and around school buses.
The following nine safety tips can help keep our children — and everyone on the road — safer this school year:
- Carpool, when possible: This lowers the number of cars on the road which reduces the chances of collisions.
- Park legally in school zones: Double parking or parking in a no-parking zone reduces visibility for children and vehicles.
- Don’t block intersections: This is especially true when the intersection includes a pedestrian crosswalk.
- Stop for crossing guards: When a crossing guard enters the street, slow to a stop, even if you don’t see a line of children waiting to cross.
- Yield to pedestrians: Even if pedestrians are not following the law by using crosswalks, always yield to pedestrians in the roadway.
- Leave a little early: Giving yourself a few extra minutes to reach your destination can lower stress, making you a more attentive driver.
- Obey school bus stop signs: If a school bus deploys its stop sign, be sure to stop, even if you don’t see any children. Only drivers traveling in the opposite direction, and across a grass median, should keep moving.
- Obey school zone speed limits: After a long summer it’s easy to cruise right through a school zone without slowing down. That’s why so many police departments place squad cars in school zones this time of year. Avoid a ticket, and help prevent accidents, by obeying those speed laws.
- Expect the unexpected: Children can behave unpredictably, especially when they’re learning new routines early in the school year. Stay on the lookout for the unexpected while driving near children.
For experienced drivers, this advice may seem like remedial knowledge. But did you notice the main idea running through these nine safety tips — the string that ties these tips together? It’s the theme of “paying attention.”
Drivers who pay attention are more likely to follow laws, and they’re more likely to notice when something unusual or unexpected happens — like when a child darts into the street to pick up a dropped pencil or notebook.
Here’s the bottom line: Your attention could save someone’s life this school year.