Love it or hate it, school is back in session! There will soon be increased traffic and pedestrians to watch out for, so it’s the perfect time to review how you can keep yourself, your family, and your community safe. Approximately 800 school-aged children die during regular school travel hours every year, and more than 150,000 are injured. Those numbers are far too high!
Let’s start with school bus safety, says Auto Accident Attorney Ramiro Rodriguez. Remember never to pass a school bus when its lights are flashing red or yellow. Pay equal attention to the stop sign on the side of a bus, whether driving behind it or approaching it from the opposite direction. Kids are unpredictable — you may not see any, but they can end up in the middle of the road in a matter of seconds. Saving yourself the inconvenience of stopping isn’t worth the risk.
Poor driving behavior around school buses is dangerous, but only about 4% of annual injuries are bus-related. Far more include motor vehicles or pedestrians. No matter why you’re driving through a school zone, it’s essential to take care, obey the speed limits, and remain alert to everything happening around you.
Distracted driving is a major cause of school zone accidents.
So, stay off your phone and save any arguments with the kids until your vehicle is parked. Also, avoid unsafe behaviors like stopping in the middle of crosswalks or double-parking. Finally, consider whether you want your teen driving themselves or their siblings to school; about 55% of deaths in school-aged children occur when a teenager is driving.
While you likely already know about distracted driving, you may not realize that distracted walking is just as big of a problem. When researchers observed 39,000 middle and high school students walking to school, 80% engaged in some form of unsafe street-crossing behavior. Some were wearing headphones, others were texting or talking on the phone, and some were engaging in multiple distracting activities. Ensure your child understands the dangers before sending them out on their own. Also read: Marietta Auto Accidents Statistics.
No one wants the trauma of losing a child or harming someone else’s. But we can have a productive and injury-free school year by working together and following the rules. Study hard and stay safe! Also read: Most Common Car Accident Injuries.
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