School days bring congestion. Yellow school buses are picking up children, kids on bikes are hurrying to get to school before the bell rings, and hurried parents are trying to drop their kids off before work.  It’s never more important for drivers to slow down and pay attention than when kids are present – especially before and after school.

If you’re dropping off – Schools have very specific drop-off procedures for the school year. Make sure you know them for the safety of all children.  Don’t double park; it blocks visibility for other children and vehicles. Don’t load or unload children across the street from the school.  Carpool to reduce the number of vehicles at the school.

Sharing the road with young pedestrians – Don’t block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light or waiting to make a turn, forcing pedestrians to go around you; this could put them in the path of moving traffic.  In a school zone, when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection.  Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard holding up a stop sign. Take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas.  Don’t honk or rev your engine to scare a pedestrian, even if you have the right-of-way. Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.  Always use extreme caution to avoid striking pedestrians wherever they may be, no matter who has the right-of-way.

Sharing the road with school buses – If you’re driving behind a bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car. It will give you more time to stop once the yellow lights tart flashing. It is illegal to pass a school bus that is topped to load or unload children. Never pass a bus from behind – or from either direction if you’re on an undivided road – if it is stopped to load or unload children. If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop. The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus. Be alert; children often are unpredictable, and they tend to ignore hazards and take risks.