With school back in session, drop-off and pickup times can quickly become hectic. School buses, cars, pedestrians and bicyclists are all sharing the road, often within a small area. Whether you’re driving through a school zone, dropping off your child or walking to school, taking a few extra precautions can help keep students safe.
Drop Off and Pick Up Children in Safe Areas
Avoid loading or unloading young children across the street from their school whenever possible. Dropping children off in designated areas can help prevent them from having to cross busy streets or walk between vehicles.
Drivers should also avoid double parking. Double-parked vehicles can block visibility for other drivers and make it difficult to see children who may be crossing the street or walking between parked cars.
If possible, consider carpooling with other families. Reducing the number of vehicles around a school during busy arrival and dismissal times can help limit congestion and make the area safer for everyone.
Keep Crosswalks Clear
When stopping at a red light or stop sign, make sure your vehicle does not block the crosswalk. Blocking a crosswalk may force children and ot
her pedestrians to walk around your vehicle and potentially into the path of moving traffic.
Drivers should also approach crosswalks cautiously and be prepared to stop. Children can sometimes be difficult to see, especially when they are near parked cars, buses or other obstructions.
Look Both Ways Before Crossing
Teach children to look left, right and left again before crossing the street. Even when using a marked crosswalk or crossing with a signal, children should make sure vehicles have stopped before entering the roadway.
Children should also avoid distractions while crossing the street. Looking at a phone, wearing headphones or playing with friends can take their attention away from surrounding traffic.
Stay Alert in School Zones
Drivers should use extra caution whenever they are near a school, particularly during morning drop-off and afternoon pickup. Watch closely for young children, bicyclists, crossing guards and school buses.
Keep an eye out for backpacks, balls, toys or other items that may fall or roll into the roadway. A child may unexpectedly enter the street to retrieve something, so slowing down and staying alert can give drivers more time to react.
School zone safety is a shared responsibility. By slowing down, limiting distractions and paying close attention to pedestrians and other vehicles, drivers can help make the trip to and from school safer for children throughout the community.
If you or your child has been injured in a pedestrian, bicycle or motor vehicle accident, Hupy and Abraham is here to help. For more than 50 years, our attorneys have fought for injured clients and their families. Contact Hupy and Abraham today at 1-800-800-5678 or visit Hupy.com for a free case evaluation.
