1. Safety Tips In School Zones August 2013 For

2.  The start of the school year brings with it heavier traffic and more people  That route you easily navigated this summer will be more congested and take longer to run  Professional drivers will want to be even more aware of their surroundings  Last year 475,000 school buses took to the roads

3.  In school zones yield to buses and give them the right of way  When following a bus don’t take a chance with an unsafe pass  Be sure you can perform the pass safely in an authorized passing zone  Don’t force the bus driver into a sudden stop or cause him to swerve off the road  As drivers we must use common sense, be courteous and stay within the law  When you see a school bus think caution

4.  All 50 states have a law making it illegal to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children  Yellow flashing lights alert motorists that they are preparing to stop  Red flashing lights and an extended stop sign arm signals motorists that the bus is stopped  All 50 states require that traffic in both directions stop on a undivided roadway when students are entering or exiting a school bus  While state laws vary on what is required on a divided roadway, in all cases, traffic behind the school bus (traveling in the same direction) must stop

5.  The area 10 feet around a school bus is where children are in the most danger of being hit  Never pass a school bus on the right. It is illegal and could have tragic consequences  Be alert. Children are unpredictable

6.  Do not text or talk on your cell phone while driving.  Slow down and obey all traffic laws and speed limits  Be alert for school zones that have a reduced speed limit at designated times of the day

7.  Keep an eye out for children walking in the street  Be alert for children playing and gathering near bus stops  When driving in neighborhoods or school zones, watch for young people who may be in a hurry

8.  All drivers need to recognize the special safety needs of pedestrians, especially children  Generally, pedestrians have the right-of-way at all intersections  You as a driver are obligated to exercise great care and extreme caution to avoid striking pedestrians

9.  Children riding bicycles create special problems because they are not capable of proper judgment in determining traffic conditions.  Watch for bicycle riders turning in front of you without looking or signaling, especially if the rider is a child.  Take extra precautions in school zones and neighborhood areas where children and teenagers might be riding.

10.  In addition to buses, others will be driving small children to and from school  College students and teenagers will be driving themselves to school  Secondary roads near neighborhoods and schools typically see the greatest traffic increases  Avoid metropolitan areas during rush hour

11.  Maintain Your Vehicle Properly Many accidents are caused by vehicle malfunctions  Get Plenty of Rest to Stay Alert There are restrictions on the hours of service for a reason  Be Mindful of Blind Spots Areas of the road that are not visible in a vehicle's mirrors  Maintain Sufficient Distance Between Vehicles Large trucks take more time to stop than smaller vehicles  Obey the Rules of the Road Truckers are not excluded from following speed limits, seat belt laws, or any other safety rules of the road OmniSource Transport 4894 13276