Safe Driving Tips for Back-To-School Season

Safe Driving Tips for Back-To-School Season

School is back in session! Over 55 million children across the United States head back to school every fall.  At this time of year, it’s important to be aware of the increased traffic and amount of people that are on the road. School busses are picking up passengers, kids are on bikes are hurrying to get to school before the bell rings and parents are trying to drop their kids off before work. Slow down and pay attention to the road, especially before and after school.

Gary Barbera Cares that you and your family are staying safe on the road. Gary Barbera has come up with some tips for you to stay safe all-year round and specifically during back-to-school season.

Sharing the Road with Pedestrians

In 2015, one in every five children under the age of 15 who were killed in traffic crashes were pedestrians. Make sure you slow down and always look around you to see if there are pedestrians.

  • When stopped at a red light or waiting to make a turn, don’t block the crosswalk. Forcing
  • pedestrians to go around you to could put them into a pathway of moving traffic.
  • Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians!
  • Take an extra care to look in school zones, playgrounds and residential areas to see if there are children that may be crossing the road.

Sharing the Road with School Busses

Between 2007 and 2016 there have been 1,282 people killed in school-transportation-related crashes. It’s important to be patient with school busses on the road.

  • Never pass a bus from behind 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.
  • Stop 10 feet behind the school bus to allow the children to come off the bus safely.
  • Be alert when children are coming off the school bus.

Gary Barbera cares that the people of Philadelphia drive safe all year-round. He has been committed to driving safety by partnering with Pennsylvania State Representative Jared Solomon to end texting and driving. Visit our website or click here to learn more about how Gary Barbera has been helping his community.