The traffic congestion and frustrations of adjusting to a new school routine sometimes cause accidents and injuries. Many drivers rush to get their students to school on time, resulting in accidents, injuries, and other minor road issues. To solve this, start by understanding your school routine as you create a schedule to achieve your timeliness, and then consider utilizing an online drivers ed course to polish your driving skills and knowledge!
Read on for more tips on safe back-to-school driving.
Safety Driving Tips
Every driver should prioritize keeping the children safe during their trip. The excitement and unsettlement of children in a school bus or vehicle add to the driving complications. Your responsibility is to keep them safe and comfortable when driving to school.
Observe Traffic Rules
Do you know the school safety zones and speed limits? Understand the basic traffic rules and signs before taking on the back-to-school responsibility. School zone areas post lower speed limits to allow for ample reaction time if kids run onto the road unexpectedly.
School safety zones allow drivers to stop, load, and unload children. Drivers should allow the school bus to stop and let the children alight or board the bus. Don’t pass it if the school bus flashes its lights to stop in the safe zone. You’ll prevent accidents since, with children’s unpredictability, they can quickly run onto or off the road toward the school bus.
Don’t pass other vehicles while in the school zone. Maintain a steady speed within the school zones and be keen when reversing or doing U-turns within the school zone. Use the designated spots for such movements to avoid unexpected accidents involving children in the area.
Make sure to follow the crossing guard’s instructions. Disregarding their instructions poses an accident risk to the children as they rely on the guard’s instructions to get to school safely. Consider other motorists, especially children walking or cycling to school, within the area to make sound judgments when driving.
Don’t use your phone when driving children to school. These driving disruptions make you miss important traffic rules or information that might cause accidents. Ensure you stop at the designated areas for children to get off or in the vehicle. Don’t stop beside streets as it increases accident risks.
Mind your parking skills in the school zone or bus stops. Double parking inconveniences other motorists where they don’t have proper visibility of road users. Avoid blocking crosswalks as it forces the children to use alternative paths to cross the road, which might put them in danger.
Maintain a Safe Distance
Keep a safe distance when driving to school. Follow the traffic rules and avoid sudden movements, especially when driving in front of a school bus. Drive slowly and carefully while entering the school or safety zone areas.
Reinforce Your Driving Knowledge and Experience Using Online Drivers Ed
Improve your driving knowledge and experience by taking the online drivers ed program. Broaden your traffic knowledge to understand how to deal with different situations when driving to school. Don’t get on the road without the required licenses and experience.
Follow School Rules
Adhere to the school rules and regulations. Ask about their drop-off and pick-up processes, designated parking spots, and no-parking or stopping areas. Understanding these schools’ laws promotes order within the school and prevents traffic jams which are a traffic hazard. Be patient with other motorists within the school to avoid built-up traffic frustrations that cause accidents.
Expect the Unexpected and Unpredictability
Understand you are driving children within the school zones. Children are sometimes unpredictable, and you need to work on your control and concentration when driving to prevent accidents involving school-going children.
How Does Online Drivers Ed Improve Safe Driving in Schools?
Back to school is an overwhelming period that needs utmost concentration, skills, and knowledge to keep the children safe. Gaining appropriate expertise from experienced professionals through online drivers ed courses helps you perfect your driving! When situations arise, you’ll be ready to react well with appropriate handling of your vehicle and the people involved, keeping everyone as safe as possible. Don’t gamble with your children’s safety; consider simply equipping yourself with better driving skills before transporting your children to school.
