With another school year upon us, many of us will now find ourselves driving children to and from school, or will at the very least be on the roads during school areas.
According to a recent document published by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, August and September are the most dangerous months of the year for pedestrians, with nearly 30% of all pedestrian-related fatalities happening during these months.
Back-to-school driving safety tips
Here are a few tips that will help to keep you and your children safe as everyone gets back to school.
Respect the bus
Imagine driving a large car or minivan with 40 noisy middle schoolers. Can you feel the raging chaos? Do your part and help to make the bus drivers’ lives a little bit easier when they are on the road. Yield when they are merging into traffic, and keep a very safe distance behind them, as they are going to be making a lot of stops. Make sure your children know that they are to always walk in front of – never behind – buses.
Get in the zone
Speed limits in East Tennessee school zones will usually fall in the 15 to 25 mph range. Follow the posted speed limits and be on the look out for pedestrians, keeping a foot on the brake. (It pretty much goes without saying that school zones are bound to be full of newly licensed teen drivers who are inexperienced).
Put down your dang cell phone
Seriously, at this point it seems crazy that we even have to say this, but for the love of all that is right in the world, please keep your mobile device in your pocket or purse while behind the wheel, especially in school zones. Pokemon Go can wait… the safety of your children and other children in your community cannot.
Call us for more back-to-school traffic safety tips
At Hotz and Associates, we may be known as the premier car wreck attorneys in Knoxville, but our sincere wish is that there would never be a car accident, and that you would arrive safely wherever life’s roads are taking you. Stay safe out there Knoxville.