It’s the start of the school year, and that means it’s time to pay extra attention to the road while driving. School buses are back on the roads in the morning and afternoon, picking up and dropping off children. School zones’ reduced speeds will also be in effect. This all means that you need to drive even more carefully, watch for children, respect school zones, and know and follow the laws for stopped school buses. As Tucker Paving has decades of experience in the paving industry in road work zones, we know how quickly accidents can happen. Make sure you follow our best tips for driving carefully now that school is back in session.
Considerations for Driving With School Back in Session
Pay attention to the following areas when driving, especially during morning and afternoon hours:
School Zones: In general, school zones have speed limits of 15 to 20 mph that are in effect 30 minutes before, during, and 30 minutes after students are at school. Speeding fines are doubled in school zones, and there could be other, harsher fines and punishments. These zones are designed to keep motorists’ speed levels low in those places where children are most likely to be in and near the road. Additionally, always follow the signals of school crossing guards.
Children In and Near the Road. The National Safety Council maintains that the majority of children who are in fatal bus-related incidents are young (4 to 7 years old) and they’re walking. Children may be walking to school, crossing a roadway in a crosswalk, walking through a parking lot, or walking on or over a road in relation to boarding or leaving a school bus. While sometimes these fatalities are caused by the bus, they are also caused by motorists not driving carefully, not paying enough attention, or passing stopped buses illegally.
Stopped Buses. School buses stop at all railroad crossings and to pick up children and drop children off. Depending on the area, students may be picked up or dropped off in front of their individual houses or groups of children may have a designated bus stop for the entire neighborhood; this means buses can either be stopping often or stopping for long periods of time. Either way, it is never okay to pass a school bus with it’s red lights flashing from behind.
In Florida, according to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, all motorists behind a school bus that stops with its red lights flashing and ‘STOP’ arms extended must stop. All motorists traveling in the opposite direction of a stopped school bus with red lights flashing and ‘STOP’ arms extended must also stop, except when there is an unpaved area at least five feet wide or a raised barrier between the two opposing lanes of the road.
Safety is always our leading concern at Tucker Paving. We have nearly 30 years of experience in the asphalt and concrete paving industry. We complete projects for residential, commercial, and municipal clients. Contact us by calling (863) 299-2262, or fill out our contact form online, and let us help you with your next project.
