School is back in session this week in South Florida which can be chaos for drivers during their commute to work. Commuters love the summertime because they know there will be no delays at crosswalks, no school zones and less traffic overall. During the first week of school, there is an increased risk of transportation related injuries for children due to pedestrian, bicycle, school bus, and motor vehicle accidents.

Back To School Safety Tips

Here are a few things to consider and be aware of, especially for the first week back to school.

• Give yourself a few extra minutes to get to work due to increased traffic, school bus stops and school zones.
• Keep an eye out for young pedestrians that are paying more attention to their cell phones than their route to school and the hazards they are facing.
• Put your own cell phone away while you are driving. Looking down for just 3 seconds could cost someone their life.
• Stop fully at all stop signs and crosswalks. It is illegal to pass through a stationary stop sign or one held by a crossing guard.
• Obey all school zones and keep in mind the speed limit in South Florida is generally between 15-20 mph during designated times of the day.

According to the National Safety Council, most of the children who lose their lives in bus-related incidents are between the ages of 4 and 7, and they are walking at the time of the incident. They are either hit by the bus, or by a motorist illegally passing a stopped bus.

A new school year is also a time for newly licensed drivers to commute to school. This can be exciting for them, but also dangerous. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, teens are more likely than older drivers to underestimate dangerous situations or not be able to recognize hazardous situations. New drivers can be distracted more easily and are more prone to getting into a car accident since they are not as experienced. A new school year and using a new method of transportation could stress teens out and increase their risk of speeding to make it on time. As an experienced motorist, be aware of newly licensed drivers before and after school hours. Teen drivers, especially those with other teen passengers are at a higher risk of being in a crash.

Please keep all the students safe by taking extra precautions and stay alert while you are driving. With a little extra care and attention, we can all make it to our destination safely. At Rader Law Group, LLC we care.