Drive Extra Careful As Kids Go Back To School

It's back to school time. Which you could probably tell if you've been to most any store recently. Or by the end of summer boredom that is making all the kids just a bit too cranky.

As teachers set up their rooms and students get their supplies in order, it's also a good time for drivers to take a moment and think about back to school driving safety. Here are some things to remember from the National Saftey Council.

Remember to share the road - School busses will be back out in force, picking up and dropping off. 

• Never pass a bus from behind – or from either direction if you're on an undivided road – if it is stopped to load or unload children
• If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop
• The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus
• Be alert; children often are unpredictable, and they tend to ignore hazards and take risks

Watch out for kids walking.

• Don't block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light or waiting to make a turn, forcing pedestrians to go around you; this could put them in the path of moving traffic
• In a school zone when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection
• Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard holding up a stop sign
• Take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas
• Don't honk or rev your engine to scare a pedestrian, even if you have the right of way
• Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians
• Always use extreme caution to avoid striking pedestrians wherever they may be, no matter who has the right of way

Don't forget the kids on their bikes.

• Watch for bike riders turning in front of you without looking or signaling; children especially have a tendency to do this
• Be extra vigilant in school zones and residential neighborhoods
• Watch for bikes coming from driveways or behind parked cars
• Check side mirrors before opening your door

Drive with extra care as the world gets back into the rhythm of the school year. Be mindful of school zones, busses and our community's young scholars.

Source: National Saftey Council.