Blog

Back to school season is officially here as most districts and private schools head back on campus to begin their new school year. As kids and teachers head back to campus, it is important to have a refresher of how to go about sharing the road on school days. Every year, people get used to the summer roads, which are often less congested with cars and people. When back to school season rolls back around, they forget the rules of the road that exist in school zones as well as any road that is occupied by drop off traffic in the mornings and pick up traffic in the afternoons.

When driving your kids to school, remember these important rules.

At drop off zones, do not double park. Double parking is not only rude, but it also poses a danger to others on the road. It blocks the visibility for both other drivers and the children heading to school. Furthermore, if possible, do not drop off your children across the street, unless there is a safe crosswalk available for them to walk on. Parents in a rush to drop off their children and get to work are notoriously dangerous drivers. The last thing you want your child to have to do is walk across a likely busy street without having a safe crosswalk to help them do so. Lastly, whenever possible, carpool. This helps reduce the traffic, making drop-off and pick-up easier for all.

Be aware of pedestrians and bicyclists.

Getting to school, in most cases, means more than just sharing the road with other cars. Oftentimes, especially the closer you get to the campuses themselves; you are sharing the road with children who are walking or biking to school. In some cases, this could mean they are on the road, if there are no bike lanes and/or limited sidewalk space. Always be extra cautious when on the road around campuses, especially around class start and end times. Furthermore, be aware of where you stop when stopping at crosswalks. Make sure you do not stop in the crosswalk around schools, as you want to give the children and staff plenty of space. Additionally, there may be traffic officers around so this will help you avoid the risk of being ticketed.

Lastly, remember that school buses need space on the road too.

Some schools have designated bus drop off areas that are for buses only. If your child’s school is like that, be aware of the zones and avoid entering them. If your child’s school does not have bus areas, be aware of buses coming and going. Leave room where possible so that buses can safely enter, and leave drop off and pick up zones.