Back to School Driving Safety Tips

As fall is ushered in and school starts to go back into session around the country, drivers should be on the lookout for the return of the big yellow school buses to roadways. According to the National School Transportation Association Go Yellow, Go Green booklet, 480,000 yellow school buses travel the nation’s roads each day, making it the largest mass transportation fleet in the United States. School buses offer a cost effective, environmentally conscious and most importantly, a safe mode of transportation for our school children. The American School Bus Council explains that buses are the best choice for your children because they are 13 times safer than non-commercial vehicles.

This influx of children on and near the roadways can cause increased danger for pedestrians and drivers, so we at Defensive Driving.com recommend you review the following safety rules and tips on how to drive near school buses:

·         Be aware of the peak school commuting hours in your town and pay extra attention while driving.

·         Drive carefully and at reduced speeds in neighborhoods where children congregate at bus stops and especially in school zones.

·         Slow down when driving behind a school bus as they may make frequent and sudden stops.

·         Learn the flashing light signal system used in your state. This generally consists of slowing down when the bus is flashing yellow lights and coming to a complete stop while the bus is flashing red lights.

The responsibility of the safety of our children does not rest solely with drivers, so it is imperative that we teach our kids bus safety rule and strategies, such as the following:  

·         Arrive at the bus stop early to avoid a situation where you would need to chase after the bus or enter the road for any reason.

·         Stand at least two large steps away from the street at all times while waiting for the bus.

·         Line up on the sidewalk rather than in the roadway.

·         Wait until the bus has come to a complete stop before attempting to board.

·         Notify the driver if you have dropped and item or need to pick something up off the street to ensure they can see you and know where you are at all times.