By: Follow South Jersey Staff
VOORHEES, N.J. – Schools across South Jersey are back in session. With increased traffic in neighborhoods and around school zones, it’s a critical time for drivers and pedestrians to brush up on these safety tips from AAA South Jersey, including the easy to remember ABC’s of school zone safety.
A – Avoid distractions
Stay focused on the road. No texting, eating, or multitasking while driving.
B – Be ready to brake
Slow down and stay alert. School zones are unpredictable, so be ready to stop at a moment’s notice.
C – Check for pedestrians and bicyclists
Watch for school zone signs, crossing guards, AAA School Safety Patrollers, and yield for anyone walking or biking.
Every fall, millions and millions of children across the United States head back to school. Since many of those children typically walk or bike to school, AAA warns drivers to be especially vigilant for pedestrians before and after school hours.
Having a heightened sense of awareness of children and following the practices below will help to keep your drive and children safe:
TIPS FOR SAFETY
1. Review your travel route. Drivers can consider modifying their travel routes to avoid school zones and residential neighborhoods. A slightly longer route might actually be quicker by avoiding congestion and much lower speed limits in and around school zones.
2. Allot extra travel time. Back to school often means increased congestion and longer commute times. Mornings can be especially stressful. Drivers should allow extra travel time when school is in session to avoid any temptation to speed or disobey traffic laws in an effort to catch up after being delayed.
3. Slow down. Speed limits in school zones are reduced for a reason. Whether in a school zone or residential neighborhood, drivers should keep their speed low and be prepared to stop quickly for increased vehicle or pedestrian traffic.
4. Obey traffic signs. Obeying traffic signs is something all drivers should do no matter where they drive. Unfortunately, many drivers violate stop signs in school zones and residential neighborhoods — many failing to come to a complete stop, rolling through a stop sign or not slowing down at all!
5. Eliminate distractions. Children often cross the road unexpectedly and may emerge suddenly between two parked cars. Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of crashing. Look out for children who may potentially dart out into the street, particularly while driving in school zones, around playgrounds, approaching school buses that are loading or unloading children, or in neighborhoods. Children are often distracted by thoughts of playtime or are unable to accurately judge traffic situations while on their journey home, so it’s imperative that drivers keep this in mind and focus solely on the act of driving.
6. Look for clues of children nearby. Keep an eye out for clues that children are likely nearby, such as AAA School Safety Patrol members, crossing guards, bicycles and playgrounds.
7. Watch for bicycles. Children on bikes are often inexperienced, unsteady and unpredictable. Slow down and allow at least three feet of passing distance between your vehicle and the bicycle. If your child rides a bicycle to school, require that they wear a properly-fitted bicycle helmet on every ride.
8. Always stop for school buses. For millions of students, the school day begins and/or ends with a trip on a school bus. The greatest risk they face is not riding the bus but approaching or leaving it. Flashing yellow lights on a school bus indicate it is preparing to stop to load or unload children, and drivers should slow down and prepare to stop. Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate that the bus has stopped and children are getting on and off. Motorists are required to stop their vehicles and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop sign is withdrawn and the bus begins moving before they can start driving again.
9. Talk to your teen. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States, and more than one in four fatal crashes involving teen drivers occurs during the after-school hours of 3 to 7 p.m. Get evidence-based guidance and tips through AAA’s How to Drive Online driver education course.
10. Reverse responsibly. Every vehicle has blind spots. Check for children on the sidewalk, driveway and around your vehicle before slowly backing up. Teach your children to never play in, under or around vehicles — even parked ones.
11. Use headlights. Turning on the vehicle’s daytime running lights or headlights — even during the day — so children and other drivers can see them more easily.
12. Use extra caution in bad weather. Whether in rain, snow, fog or any other inclement weather, drivers should use extra caution. Reduced visibility can make it difficult for drivers to see children and children to see vehicles. It also can make it difficult to perform quick stops, if needed.
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