Driver School Zone Safety

It’s been a while since schools have been operating at full capacity. It’s a good time to remind yourself and your drivers about safe driving practices around school zones.

School zones are areas around schools where the posted speed limit is lowered in order to protect children. Areas for school zones typically include: • Streets directly adjacent to a school • Intersections near a school • Crosswalks in the vicinity of a school

In most states, the speed limit in a school zone will only be lower during hours when students are going to and from school. However, some states require motorists to reduce speeds when passing schools no matter what time of day. Often marked by flashing lights on a speed limit sign, you should slow down. Most areas require driving no faster than 25 miles per hour, but there are areas that require you drive under 15 miles per hour.

It is imperative to follow school zone speed limits. Traveling faster than the posted limit greatly increases your stopping distance, and therefore, the likelihood of striking a pedestrian.

Distraction and Reaction Distance –The time it takes for the driver to realize the need to brake plus the time it takes to depress the brake pedal. The reaction time for an attentive driver is just under 1 second, but distracted drivers can take up to 3½ seconds to react.

Braking Distance –The distance your car travels after you have applied the brakes until your vehicle comes to a stop. The faster you are travelling, the more momentum you have and the braking distance will increase.

Stopping Distance –The total distance you travel before you apply the brakes, plus the distance you travel while the brakes slow you down.

Another important reason to follow the posted school zone speed limit is the severity of sustained injury, should an impact occur. Speed is especially lethal for vulnerable users, like pedestrians and people biking. The risk of injury and death increases as speed increases.

At 20 miles per hour –90% chance of survival

At 30 miles per hour –50% chance of survival

At 40 miles per hour –10% chance of survival

Crosswalks

Crosswalks may be marked with brightly colored flags or flashing lights. There may also be a crossing guard or police officer assisting pedestrians.

You must: • Yield to the pedestrian • Stop when someone is in the road and wait for them to cross completely before proceeding • Keep the intersection clear to ensure the pedestrian’s visibility • Obey crossing guard or police officer instructions • Don’t block the crosswalk when stopped or waiting to make a turn • Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians

Buses

Watch for children playing or meeting near the bus. Remember children can be unpredictable and may dart out from around the bus without looking for traffic. The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus

Know the flashing signal system. Yellow flashing lights mean the bus is preparing to stop. Red flashing lights indicate the bus has stopped and is loading or unloading children. You must wait until the red light stops flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn and the bus begins to move before proceeding.

Distracted Walking

Distracted walking is walking while texting, tweeting, gaming, talking, surfing the web or listening to headphones.

Be aware that students, and even parents, may be walking while distracted. • 25% of high school students and 16% of middle school students were found to be walking distracted. • 44% of distracted teens were wearing headphones • 31% of distracted teens were looking on their phone • 80% of students participated in unsafe street crossing

Distracted walking is on the rise and, as a motorist, you need to be aware of this behavior and be extra cautious.

Bicyclists

When passing a bicyclist, proceed in the same direction slowly, and leave 3 feet between your car and the cyclist. When turning left and a bicyclist is approaching in the opposite direction, wait for the rider to pass.

If you’re turning right and a bicyclist is approaching from behind on the right, let the rider go through the intersection first, and always use your turn signals.

Watch for bike riders turning in front of you without looking or signaling.

Watch for bikes coming from driveways or behind parked cars.

And finally, check side mirrors before opening your door.

This article is courtesy of information compiled by Crum & Forster. This material is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be a representation of coverage that may exist in any particular situation under a policy issued by one of the companies within Crum & Forster.