Back to School Driving Safety Tips

August 10th is back to school time for Bay area students.  Many of you have noticed that traffic lightens over the summer months, but you will begin to see more cars on the roads again with the beginning of the school year. This is a great opportunity to refresh yourself, and your teens, about safe driving.  Here are our tips to prepare for the back-to-school rush:

• Give yourself more time to get to your location (especially mid-day and morning)

Crosswalks, schools, and buses will make traffic slower and increase the time necessary to get to where you need to be. If you give yourself an extra ten minutes, you won’t feel so stressed or angry when traffic slows or comes to a stop.

• Keep your eyes on the road

Kids will be crossing streets or waiting at corners for buses, so you need to be alert. Being distracted by your phone can be deadly – More children are hit by cars near schools than at any other location, according to the National Safe Routes to School program.

• Be aware of pedestrians and give them the right of way

Please don’t beep your horns as school children cross streets- it makes them nervous and reactive. Don’t beep your horn at a car that is waiting for pedestrians to cross. And please, don’t pass a car that is waiting for pedestrians to cross the street. All of these things increase stress and the likelihood of accidents.

We are happy our community of kids are back to school and learning new things. Let’s do what we can to make it safe travels for them!

#CourtesyCounts #LoveYourDrive