Slow Down: Back to School Means Sharing the Road
Tuesday, September 4th is the first day of school in Worcester County and school days bring changes to traffic: school buses are picking up and dropping off, kids on bikes or walking are hurrying to get to school before the bell rings, harried parents are trying to drop their kids off before work.
Whether you're going about your daily routine, or you are a parent or child getting to and from school, it's important to pay attention – especially before and after school.
Sharing the Road with School Buses
According to research by the
National Safety Council, most of the children who lose their lives in bus-related incidents are 4 to 7 years old, and they're walking. Incidents can involve the bus itself, or a motorist illegally passing a stopped bus. A few precautions go a long way toward keeping children safe.
• Take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas
• Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians
If you're driving behind a bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car. It will give you more time to stop once the yellow lights start flashing.
• It is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children
• Be alert; children often are unpredictable, and they tend to ignore hazards and take risks