Some School Districts Are Back in Session; Drive Cautiously

As the pandemic starts to release its grip on our day-to-day living, some school districts have decided to reopen for in-classroom learning.

While this relieves moms and dads from doubling as home-schoolers, it also presents a new set of concerns.

In-person learning in school districts means kids are once again walking to school or boarding a school bus at about the time many workers are heading to their jobs.

While there will be some businesses that will continue to allow some of their workers to remain working from home, many businesses need onsite workers. This means a return to some measure of commute traffic.

With children on the roads and crosswalks, it’s important for drivers to take their foot off the accelerator and proceed with caution around children.

School Zone Safety

The American Automobile Association (AAA) has a llst of guidelines for motorists to follow when driving through school zones.

Slow Down. Speed limits in school zones are reduced for a reason. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25 mph is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling just 10 mph faster.

Come to a complete stop. Research shows that more than one-third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods. Always come to a complete stop, checking carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding.

Eliminate distractions. Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of crashing. And children can be quick, crossing the road unexpectedly or emerging suddenly between two parked cars. Reduce risk by not using your cell phone or eating while driving, for example.

Reverse responsibly. Every vehicle has blind spots. Check for children on the sidewalk, in the driveway and around your vehicle before slowly backing up. Teach your children to never play in, under or around vehicles.

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 a bicyclist. If your child rides a bicycle to school, require that he or she wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet on every ride.

Source: AAA Washington