We’ve started the fall school semester, and already the roads are busier. School buses are frequenting the roadways, and motorists are doing their best to adjust accordingly. Statistics tell us over 56 million children travel to school from their homes by way of walking, biking, or school bus. Even though this material isn’t new, it may be helpful for us to review a few reminders about school zone safety.
1. Stay Alert
Be on the lookout for designated school zones and marked crosswalks. Avoid being distracted by your GPS or your cell phone. Keep your speed reasonable while approaching or passing through these zones. Also, be on the lookout for children crossing the street or running to the bus stop. Reduce your speed to give yourself enough time to react to the unexpected.
2. Respect the Zone
When you arrive at a designated school zone, be sure to give the crosswalk a generous amount of room. Don’t stop in the middle of it. Wait patiently until those needing to cross have done so. States often double or triple the fines for those who fail to respect the school zone laws.
3. Always Stop for Buses
If a school bus is stopped with its lights flashing and stop sign extended, it is illegal to pass it. Granted, at the moment, stopping can seem like an inconvenience. However, stopping means protecting the safety of a child, and it’s absolutely worth it. Infrastripe prides itself on preserving the safety of people, and we certainly extended this protection to children. The safety of people is invaluable and merits careful planning and attention. As children have returned to their school studies, let’s encourage all motorists to give them the space they need on the road.