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Back to School Driving Safety

It’s that time of year again. The fireworks are over, and school supplies are flying off the shelves. Soon young and eager learners in our community will be returning to school. As we transition into this season, it’s essential for drivers to be aware of the increased number of buses, bicyclists, and pedestrians to avoid an incident causing Personal Injury to themselves or others. Here are some back to school safety tips reminders from the National Safety Council.

Bus Safety

  • Give students and buses plenty of space. Flashing lights and stop arms mean you MUST stop.
  • Passing a moving bus is risky for both the bus and the passing vehicle so it’s best to have patience and wait.

Bicyclists

  • Give children riding bicycles plenty of space. They may not remember all the rules of the road in a high-traffic situation. Be aware that they rarely use turn signals.
  • When turning, always allow a bicyclist to proceed before continuing. Left-hand turns are the most common cause of vehicle bicyclist accidents.
  • Always check your side mirrors for approaching bicyclists before opening your doors.

Pedestrians

  • The most common age for a youth pedestrian fatality is 4-7 years old. Go SLOW through school zones, neighborhoods, and parks.
  • Always stop before the crosswalk. Be patient and allow the pedestrian plenty of time to cross the road. Never honk or crowd a pedestrian crossing the road.
  • Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.

Each year when students go back to school, added congestion is a guarantee. If you’re a parent dropping off a student or commuter on your way to work, it’s a good idea to leave 10 minutes earlier than normal for the first two weeks while bus, bicycle, and pedestrian routines become familiar. Leaving extra time and using the back-to-school safety tips above will improve safety for all during this transition.

If you or your child are injured in a car accident, call an attorney to discuss your legal rights. 

Since 1883, the attorneys at Doar, Drill & Skow have represented families, individuals, and businesses across Wisconsin and Minnesota in areas of personal injury, criminal defense, family law and divorce, civil litigation, estate planning, trusts, worker’s compensation, and more. We are recognized as one of western Wisconsin’s most skilled and successful personal injury law firms and have built our reputation on what we achieve for our clients. We are committed to being your advocate, regardless of your circumstances.

DISCLAIMER: The Doar, Drill, and Skow blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported may come from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these types of situations choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.

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