Summer is ending, children are heading back to school, and the roads are becoming more congested with school buses picking up young passengers, kids on bikes rushing to school, and parents dropping their kids off before work. Remembering school safety can help keep children safe this school year!

School Zone Driving Safety

When driving through a School Zone it's important to:

• Be on the lookout for school zone signals and ALWAYS obey the speed limits.
• Slow down and obey all traffic laws.
• Always stop for school buses that are loading or unloading young passengers.
• Keep an eye out for school crossing guards.
• Be patient. Never pass other vehicles in a school zone.

School Drop-Off

Most schools have very specific drop-off procedures. If you are dropping off it's important to make sure you are aware of the school's procedures for the safety of all children. The following applies to all school zones:

• Don't double park; it blocks visibility for other children and vehicles.
• Don't load or unload children across the street from the school.
• Carpool to reduce the number of vehicles at the school.

Sharing the Road with School Buses

It is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children. When following a school bus, allow a greater following distance. A few precautions go a long way for the safety of all children:

• Never pass a bus from behind.
• Traffic must STOP when the stop arm of the bus is extended.
• Stop far enough back to allow space for children to safely enter and exit the bus.
• Be ALERT; children can often be unpredictable.

Sharing the Road with Bicyclists

On most roads, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as vehicles. While bikes are hard to see, children riding bikes create special problems for drivers as they are not always able to properly determine traffic conditions. It's important to follow these tips for the safety of all bicyclists:

• When passing a bicyclist, proceed in the same direction slowly, and leave 3 feet between them and your vehicle.
• When turning left while a cyclist is approaching, wait for the rider to pass. 
• Always watch for bike riders turning in front of you - especially children.
• Be extra cautious for bicyclists in school zones.
• Watch for bikes coming from driveways or behind parked cars.