For many Georgia families, the beginning of August also means the beginning of the back-to-school season. There will be more congestion on the roadways as parents drop their children off at school, school buses transport students, and kids ride their bikes or walk to class. It is important for motorists and pedestrians to share the road and pay attention to their surroundings. Here are a few reminders about Back to School Traffic Safety:
1) Parent Drop-offs: Many schools have specific procedures for dropping children off; make sure you familiarize yourself with those rules prior to the first day of class. According to the National Safe Routes to School program, more children are hit by vehicles outside of their school than at any other location. To avoid this, parents should drop children off directly in front of the building (not across or down the street), avoid double-parking, and try to reduce the amount of vehicles in the drop-off lane by carpooling with other parents.
2) Student Pedestrians: Drivers should always be aware of pedestrians – especially when those pedestrians are young and perhaps unfamiliar with the rules of the road. According to the National Safety Council, most of the children killed in school bus accidents are seven years or younger. They are hit as they are walking to and from the bus. In order to keep children safe, motorists should allow plenty of space for crosswalks, and yield to crossing guards. Be extra alert while driving through school zones and near parks.
3) School Buses: As a general rule, drivers should make sure they have more space between their vehicle and a school bus than they normally would between their vehicle and another car on the road. This is for a couple of reasons. First, it gives drivers more reaction time if the bus makes a surprise stop. Second, it gives students more space to safely enter/exit the school bus. In Georgia, it is illegal to pass a school bus on an undivided road if the bus is stopped and its lights are flashing (or stop arm is extended).
4) Students Riding Bicycles: On Georgia roads, bicyclists have many of the same rights as motorists. But children in particular may create special problems because they can be difficult to see and they are not familiar with navigating traffic. In order to avoid a dangerous situation, drivers should leave at least three feet between their car and the bicyclist, and be prepared for young riders not to signal. When driving through school zones, motorists should watch for bikes coming from driveways, from around parked cars, or approaching from behind in traffic.
By remembering these Back To School Traffic precautions, motorists, school buses, bicyclists and pedestrians can all safely share the road. However, if you, or someone you know, has been injured in a collision and needs help with a personal injury claim, give Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group - Gore a call today at (404) 436-1529.