​The intent of implementing school zones was to provide children safe passage from their homes to schools but most parents and children incorrectly assume that these zones work as they were designed to. Taking a proactive rather than reactive approach is the greatest method of ensuring that your children will be aware of and avoid the dangers that they may encounter on the way to and from school each day. Additionally, it is important to review your own driving habits to determine whether you are contributing to the problem or a part of the solution. Use these final tips as a guideline.

• Always assume that children are around in the event that a child runs into the street from behind a building or object that obstructed your view.
• Slow down. This will improve your reaction time and reduce the severity of potential injuries should you be involved in an accident.
• Turn off your electronic devices while you drive. The phone calls and text messages can wait, especially if the delay in responding saves a life.

​In addition to limiting distractions and focusing on the road, it’s important to actually follow school zone regulations in order to decrease the risk of school zone accidents. According to a report published by Safe Kids Worldwide about how often people violate stop signs in school zones “forty-five percent don’t come to a complete stop, 37 percent roll through the stop sign, and seven percent don’t slow down.” Another survey found that two-thirds of drivers go faster than the posted speed limit in school zones in the 30 minutes before and after school. Shockingly, an automated photo enforcement measure showed that 82% of drivers illegally pass school buses despite the deployment of affixed stop signs and flashing lights. Lowered speed limits, stop signs, and regulations regarding stopping for school buses are all designed to keep children safe as they go to and from school. However, none of these regulations can serve their purpose when drivers refuse to follow them.

1. Reduce Your Speed– Unfortunately, many drivers disregard school zone speed limit signs and continue to drive at the speed limit of the road they are on. It’s imperative that you reduce your speed every time you are driving through a school zone, even if you believe there are no children present.
2. Avoid Distractions– Although distracted driving should always be avoided, it can be especially detrimental when in a school zone. Since children are known for being unpredictable, a second’s delay in reaction time can be the difference between preventing an accident or causing a deadly one. Texting, talking on the phone, applying makeup, or distracting yourself in any other way while driving in a school zone can lead to significant regrets in the future.
3. Refrain from Passing a School Bus with Flashing Red Lights or a Red Stop Arm– If you see a school bus with flashing red lights or an engaged red stop arm, you must stop and refrain from passing it. When you see red lights or an engaged red stop arm, children are likely getting on or off the bus and can sustain injuries if a driver illegally passes the bus.
4.  Obey Crossing Guards– Crossing guards have a legal duty to use a stop sign in order stop traffic so that children can safely cross the street on their way to or from school. If you see a crossing guard with a stop sign, you should come to a complete stop and remain stopped until the crossing guard and children are off the road and the stop sign has been lowered.
5. Reverse Carefully– Before backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, you should watch out for children. In addition, it’s a good idea to check the sidewalks to find out if children are approaching before you get into your car and begin to drive.
6. Leave Early– Since areas with school zones are usually congested, you should leave early to give yourself more time to get to your destination. Leaving early will help your prevent road rage and the tickets and accidents that it often causes.
7. Expect the Unexpected– When driving through school zones, it’s essential to be alert at all times as a child can unexpectedly appear from anywhere. Young children move very quickly and if you are not paying attention, you can easily hit one.

If you or your child has been injured in a school zone accident due to someone else’s negligence, contact our school zone accident attorney today. Your child is entitled to be safe while he or she is coming or going from school, and no school zone injury should be accepted or tolerated. The dedicated professionals at The Pascoe Law Firm are ready to fight for you and your family.  Call us today at 713-829-4317 or visit our main  Car Accident page for more information.

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