Avoid Accidents and Stay Safe On the Roads This Back-to-School Season

School is back in session, and for many of us that means more commotion on the roads. The higher rates of traffic due to the new school year means it is time to sharpen up you and your children’s knowledge of traffic safety.

At Ramos James Law, PLLC we encourage both parents and children to practice the best safety standards in order to keep everyone safe and prevent any mishaps in a school zone before they happen. Consider the following before your next trip to school.

 Car Safety in School Zones

School zone speed limits are necessary as they are designed to keep all pedestrians, no matter what age, safe. Should a pedestrian be hit by a car that is moving at 25 mph, they are almost 2/3 less likely to be killed by the impact than if the car was traveling an extra 10 mph.

For drivers, research has shown that they are twice as likely to be involved in a car accident if they take their eyes off of the road for just as little as two seconds. During this two second duration, children can unexpectedly cross a street or suddenly dart from between two parked cars in the parking lot before you have time to react.

Because of this, it is absolutely essential to be focused on the road, especially when driving through a school zone. Avoid such distractions like eating, drinking, applying makeup/grooming, and, most importantly, texting and talking on a cell phone to ensure that you, the children, and school staff remain safe.

Important Safety Rules to Remember While Transporting your Children to School

Once you’ve set your mind to avoiding distractions and follow the school zone speed limit, there are other important safety rules to keep in mind. The following is a list of basic rules that can keep you and your little loved ones safe while driving in a school zone:

• Do not change lanes in a school zone.
• Do not pass other cars in a school zone.
• Do not make any U turns in a school zone.
• Do not (unless licensed) use emergency or handicap spaces or lanes to pick-up or drop-off kids in a school zone.

 How Pedestrians Can Stay Safe While Walking in a School Zone

Walking to school can be a great way for kids to become more active, but for their own safety, children under 10 years old should always be accompanied by an adult. If your children are older and walk to school, inform them about the dangers of walking while distracted and how they can stay safe:

1. Always be aware of the surroundings.
2. Always walk on the sidewalk, and cross on crosswalks only.
3. If crossing the street, look left, then right, then left one more time before committing to it.
4. Calling or texting while walking to school should be avoided.
5. Never use phones or other electronic devices while crossing the street.
6. Refrain from using headphones while walking to school as audio distractions can muffle car horns or emergency response vehicle sirens.
7. If they must text, inform them to move to the safe side of sidewalk traffic and stop walking until they are finished.

Like drivers, pedestrians are also prone to distractions that can lead to disastrous consequences. Take some time to talk to your children about how they can stay safe while walking to school.

Bus Safety at a School Zone

 If you are driving and see a bus stop to drop off children, you must also stop immediately until all children are off the road, the bus drives off, and the bus’ stop sign is folded back in place.

 Taking the school bus is a common and safe way to get to school. If your child travels to school via school bus, it is important to discuss the following safety tips with them too:

•  Always wait for the bus to completely stop before you begin to approach it.
• Stay on the sidewalk at least 6 feet away from the curb.
• When waiting for the bus, keep an eye out for other vehicles and stay out of their way.
• Once in the bus, only get up from your seat when the bus completely stops for drop off.

Following simple steps like these can help prevent tragedies. Yet even when precautions are taken, car accidents caused be negligence can still happen. That is when the car accident attorney of Ramos James Law, PLLC can help you get the compensation you need to properly recover.