Back to School Safety Tips for Drivers

Safety tips for drivers are just as important as other back to school safety tips. During the back to school season, there are many hidden dangers that affect us all. Things we may not think about, but should for the safety of our kids. Drivers, specifically, face a few extra considerations where safety is concerned. Here are some safety tips for drivers to consider during the back to school season.

Residential Neighborhood Driving

When kids head back to school, early morning driving through neighborhoods starts to get a bit more difficult. Slow down and consider the larger number of kids heading to bus stops and walking to school. This is most important in the residential neighborhoods around town so pay extra attention and slow down in these areas.

School Zone Speed Limits

During the back to school season, school zone speed limits are enforced very strictly, as they should be. The last thing we need is fast drivers flying down streets where there are tons of kids crossing the road. Be very careful of these areas and keep your eyes and ears open to unexpected movements. Kids tend to run out first and accidents can still happen even at slow speeds.

Give Yourself Extra Time

When you leave home for work or school in the mornings, you should automatically assume a longer commute during the school year. This is especially true during the back to school time of year because some people are new to various schools and morning routines. This will slow down traffic, as will all of the school buses on the road. Allow at least an extra half hour so that you are not rushing around and make bad driving decisions.

School Bus Safety

When you are riding behind a school bus, it is tempting to want to zoom on by or get past. They move slow and we are usually trying to move quickly because we are running behind. That said, the kids on those school buses are far more important and we should only pass when there is a very clear opening to do so safely. Make sure you watch out for the bus stops and the lights coming on every so often. Running these lights or stop signs can cost you a small fortune, but more importantly, can cause a horrible disaster. Never be in too much of a hurry to get past a school bus.

These back to school safety tips for drivers will not prevent all the accidents, but it will certainly lessen your chances of having one. Keeping our kids and students safe is the top priority for us all and we have to remember that when they head back to school. Foot traffic and car traffic will increase and that means we should increase our awareness to meet the need.