Back-to-School Driving Safety Tips
School days bring congestion. School buses pick up students, kids right their bikes to school and parents are dropping off their kids before work. The first day of school in Duval County is this coming Monday, August 12th. Barnes Cohen & Sullivan wants to remind everyone about the importance for drivers to slow down and pay attention.
If You’re Dropping Off
If You’re Dropping OffWhen dropping students off, schools often have specific drop off procedures for students. The following applies to all school zones:
- Don’t double park
- No speeding
- Don’t load or unload across the street from the school without a crosswalk
Watch Out For Pedestrians
According to research done by the National Safety Council, most children who lose their lives in bus-related accidents are between the ages of 4 and 7. The following precautions can save a life:
- Don’t block the crosswalk at stop lights or waiting to run, forcing pedestrians to walk around you.
- In a school zone, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection.
- Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard.
- Never pass a school bus.
- Never pass other vehicles stopped for pedestrians.
Other important tips when driving to avoid accidents:
- Don’t text and drive.
- Don’t speed, especially in school zones.
- Respect the yellow bus. There are many young lives on these buses.
- Wear a seatbelt.
- Don’t drive distracted with many people in the car, especially young drivers.