Back to School

Back to School season is in full swing and we need to be mindful that we will once again be sharing the roads with school buses. Here are a few safety tips to keep us all safe throughout the entire school year.

• Be alert for students near school bus stops as well as those who walk to school.
  • Typical school hours are 7am – 4pm but after school events such as school sports, could be on weekends or during the evening
• Never pass a school bus while it is loading or unloading
• Always make sure the area is clear of students before proceeding (after waiting for bus)
• Always obey all traffic laws
• If possible, plan to use alternate routes to avoid school related traffic
• Maintain a safe following distance from any school buses
• Remember that school buses stop at all railroad crossings
• Put your phone down, don’t text while driving and refrain from being on your phone in and around schools zones
• Control your speed in all areas, especially those where students may be present
  • Controlling your speed is the best way to control your vehicle

Speeding is a factor in 1/3 of all fatal crashes. 87% of which happens on roads that are NOT highways. That alone should be enough to keep us from speeding, but we get distracted, or in a hurry, or we have a hundred other excuses. This especially calls for when you are in a school zone. Make sure to follow the lowered speed limit in construction zones and school zones and go extra slow in high risk areas, such as parking lots, traffic jams, areas of low visibility, etc.

CLICK HERE to download the optional Safety Talk form for your workplace.