August is the beginning of the new school year for many students. School days bring traffic congestion. School buses are picking up students, children are on bikes hurrying to school before the bell rings, and parents are rushing to drop their kids off before work. It’s important for drivers to slow down and pay attention when kids are present — especially before and after school.
Drivers must take extra preventive measures to avoid accidents and keep children safe by staying alert and driving defensively. Here are a few precautions to help keep children safe:
n Slow down and stop — every intersection is a crosswalk.
n Don‘t block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light or while waiting to make a turn. This forces pedestrians to go around you and could put them in the path of moving traffic.
n In a school zone, when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk or intersection.
n Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard holding up a stop sign.
n Take extra care to look for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in residential areas.
n Don‘t honk or rev your engine at a pedestrian, even if you have the right-of-way.
n Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.
n Always use extreme caution to avoid striking pedestrians wherever they may be, no matter who has the right of way.
If you‘re driving behind a bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car. Doing so will give you more time to stop once the yellow lights start flashing. It is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children. Remember to:
n Never pass a bus from behind — or from either direction if you‘re on an undivided road — if the bus is stopped to load or unload children.
n Stop if the yellow or red bus lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended.
n Stop at a distance that allows children space to safely enter and exit the bus. The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children.
n Be alert; children often are unpredictable, and tend to ignore hazards and take risks.
If you are driving, especially in a neighborhood, always look out for pedestrians. Foot traffic is likely to be higher as more families and children are at home. It’s likely that you or your child will be a pedestrian at some point in the day. Remind your children to:
n Cross the street at the corner, obey traffic signals, and stay in the crosswalk.
n Whenever they are available, use marked crosswalks to cross the street, and look left-right-left for vehicles or bikes before crossing.
n Never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
n Be careful at driveways. Always check for cars backing up and watch for cars entering from the street.
n Make sure you never play, push, or shove others when you walk around traffic.
n When crossing, make eye contact with the drivers.
n Watch the road; put your phone down and keep your head up when walking.
The United States Postal Service® makes every effort to promote safe neighborhoods. Play a part in safety — whether you are on or off the clock — be alert, aware, and attentive of your surroundings. Knowing the rules and being proactive rather than reactive on the roadways will keep children and their families safe.
— Occupational Safety and Health,
Human Resources, 8-22-24
