As schools all over your hometown call class back into session, the number of children walking near the roadways increases significantly. A number of additional cars are also on the road, with parents on carpool duty once again. Reviewing back-to-school driving tips is one of the best ways you can prepare for the fall.
Keep the following top driving tips in mind when you buckle up and drive toward a school zone, and you’ll avoid accidents and keep your car off the tow truck:
Tip #1: Drive, But Prepare to Brake
When you’re making your way through school zones, don’t rush. From parents slowing their vehicles to drop their children off at school to children darting out from between cars, you should be prepared to brake at all times.
Coast when you are near schools and keep your foot over the brake pedal so you can be sure to react as fast as may be necessary to avoid an accident or save a life.
Tip #2: Observe School Zone Speed Limits
A list of driving tips has to include a note on speeding. School zone speed limits are set to protect innocent children. It’s not a suggestion — it’s a necessity.
Make sure you keep your speed within the limit, whether that’s 25 mph or 15 mph. It can differ depending on the school zone.
Tip #3: Watch Out for New Drivers
You might think you don’t have to be extra careful near a high school, but you’d be wrong. Yes, high-school-aged kids are less likely to suddenly dive into traffic, but most have also just received their license. When they’re groggy and tired and driving to school, or when they’re trying to leave the school zone as fast as possible after the final bell, new drivers may be more likely to make mistakes. Stay on the defensive and be ready to react.
Tip #4: Take Extra Care to Avoid Pedestrians
Countless children walk to school each day and are not injured. But you don’t want the exception to be a child in your neighborhood.
According to the National Safety Council, 119 school-aged pedestrian children died between 2003 and 2012. By taking extra care to observe careful driving tips, stopping before crosswalks, and pausing before driving by a parked school bus, you could save a life.
Tip #5: Never Pass a School Bus
As frustrated as you may feel to be stuck in traffic behind a school bus, never pass the bus from behind unless it’s parked and the yellow and red lights are turned off. Not only is passing a bus a safety hazard, but it’s also a crime.
Observe these five driving tips so that the back-to-school season unfolds smoothly and safely in your town, and remember to call GTGs whenever you need towing.
In general, here are the most common thing you should also do when you are on the road. By following these simple tips, you can help to avoid accidents and make the roads safer for everyone.
- Follow the speed limit: One of the most common causes of accidents is speeding. Obeying the posted speed limit is a good way to avoid accidents.
- Don’t tailgate: Following the car in front of you too closely increases the chance of an accident if that car has to stop suddenly. Make sure to leave plenty of space between you and the car ahead of you.
- Use your turn signals: Letting other drivers know what you are going to do helps them react accordingly, and can prevent accidents.
- Don’t drive distracted: Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of accidents. Put away your cell phone and other distractions before you start driving.
- Don’t drive under the influence: Driving while intoxicated is extremely dangerous and puts yourself and others at risk. If you plan on drinking, make sure to have a designated driver.