Reduced Speed Signs
We have all seen the school zone signs. In many parts of the country, the common speed around School Zones is in the 15 – 20 mile an hour range. This will vary from city to city, but there will always be a reduced speed limit sign. These signs, which are usually white or yellow with black bordering and lettering, will inform you of the speed limit allowed for that School Zone. Sometimes, these signs may have a flashing light on them to indicate school is in or children are present. There are signs placed at the beginning of the School Zone, as well as at the end. Remember, the fine for speeding and not obeying traffic laws in school zones is usually much higher than in other areas.
Watch for Children
They whole point of School Zones is to protect our children. Even when you are following all the rules, driving cautiously and not speeding, it is still possible for accidents to happen. A driver should always be on alert for pedestrians and bikers, but when driving in School Zones, this is even more important. A child does not always think to make sure they look both ways, wait for traffic to pass or not play near the street. When they are not looking, it is up to you to make sure you are.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column][vc_column_text]
School Buses
Where there is a school, there are school buses. There are certain rules to follow when it comes to school buses. The most important is to always stop when you see a bus with flashing lights. Most of the time, the bus will also have a small sign, much like a stop sign, or even a bar that will stop traffic. The bus will wait until all children have left the bus and crossed the street before resuming normal activity. It can seem like a pain, but not following this simple rule can be dangerous and costly.
Be Prepared to Brake
When you are going 15 – 20 miles an hour, there is really no need to be stepping on the accelerator. Instead, try coasting as much as possible. Keep your foot above the brake pedal so you can react quickly in an emergency as you were taught in drivers training.
Crosswalk Signs
While not exclusively a School Zone sign, the yellow and black crosswalk signs are almost always located within School Zones, as well as other places. When you spot one of these signs, watch for pedestrians crossing the street. Many parents walk their children to and from school, or allow their young ones to walk on their own. Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. They have the right of way.
Never Text
This goes for anytime you are behind the wheel. Driving a car is a big responsibility, and not one to be taken lightly. You must always be on attentive when operating a vehicle. Texting while driving, or inattentive driving in general, is an easy way to injure or kill someone. With so many more opportunities for bad things to happen, it is even more important that you put down the phone and focus on driving in School Zones.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]