As students all across the Las Vegas Valley head back to school this week, personal injury attorneys, Jason S. Cook and John P. Shannon of Vegas Auto Injury Lawyers, wanted to offer you some back to school safety tips. Back to school safety does not only apply to kids and parents, but also to those whose morning commutes take them through school zones and along bus routes. Ensure safety for school children, yourself and other vehicles on the road with our back to school safety tips.
Back to School Safety Tips for Drivers
Of all the back to school safety tips for drivers, none is more important than being aware of flashing lights. School buses and school zones in the mornings and afternoons will increase traffic and even delay your commute to and from work. Practice extreme caution when driving in or near school zones and buses.
Flashing lights on a school bus serve as warnings to drivers. Most will flash amber/yellow lights as an indicator the bus is preparing to stop to load/unload children. Red flashing lights indicate the bus is stopped for children to exit the bus.
Nevada law forbids drivers from passing a stopped school bus. Drivers must remain stopped until the bus is back in motion. This law also applies to drivers on the opposite side of the road, unless you are on the other side of a road divided by a physical barrier or unpaved median.
Here are some back to school safety tips for drivers in or near school zones:
- Be prepared for kids to appear suddenly from between parked cars.
- If children are on bikes, anticipate them suddenly turning in front of you without looking.
- Always be prepared to stop quickly.
Additional Back to School Safety Tips
Here are a few additional back to school safety tips to help you and your loved ones have a safe school year:
- Only cross streets at crosswalks.
- Pay attention to crossing guards.
- Children should use the buddy system when walking or riding bikes to school.
- Leave earlier than usual for work.
- Don’t text while driving.
- Stop and yield to pedestrians crossing at crosswalks and intersections.
- Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.
- Never pick up or drop off kids across the street from the school.
- Slow down and drive cautiously.
Each new school year means kids will be walking, biking, driving, and horsing around on their way to school. We all have a responsibility to take care of children. First, by prioritizing their safety. Second, by giving them the tools and knowledge, they need to safely navigate the roads themselves each school year. Keeping these back to school safety tips front of mind can help kids have a happy, healthy and safe school year. And as we prepare to share the road with children and school buses, being mindful of our back to school safety tips for drivers can ensure positive outcomes as well.
Your Vegas Auto Injury Lawyers Can Help
If you or your child is injured in a traffic accident this school year, please contact your Vegas Auto Injury Lawyers at (702) 989-8888 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 3320 N. Buffalo Drive Suite 202, Las Vegas, NV 89129.
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