Back to School: Fall into Safety

Written by Laura Cerutti

As summer is on its way out, you may be finding your commute falling back into its natural rhythm as autumn creeps in. When June rolled around and schools were let out for the summer, I noticed a significant change in my morning commute to work. The local roads were drastically clearer, the familiar lineup of cars outside the middle school I pass every morning disappeared, and the crossing guard that stops traffic as soon as I approach her crosswalk (I swear she’s trying to make me late) was missing from her usual post. No frantic parents. No children walking or biking. No school buses.

Just like the students, my regular commute went on summer break between June and September. I found myself being able to breeze down the local roads with ease and even started to catch few extra minutes of sleep than I usually would, being that I was able to leave a little later. But I knew this would be short-lived because morning commutes go through seasonal changes of their own that coincide with the school calendar. As soon as the temperature heats up and school is let out in June, the local roads are noticeably clearer and more manageable, but when September rolls around it is right back to the usual hustle and bustle.

Now that this year’s summer break has come to an end, 55 million children across the United States are heading back to school and it is that time of year where school zone back-ups, crossing guards, and school buses reclaim the road. All road users are feeling the “back to school blues” in some way with 20 to 30 percent of morning rush hour traffic attributed to kids being driven to school.  This additional traffic was absent just a few weeks ago and is now back in full swing.

If you pass a school on your commute, like I do, you are probably familiar with the commotion that occurs around school zones. Parents make bold driving maneuvers trying to get a prime pick-up/drop-off spot, cumbersome school buses try to make their exit out of narrow school driveways and on to busy streets, and children are making their way on foot to or from school grounds. You may be in a rush to get to work or you may be a parent trying get your kids in class before the late bell, but after being spoiled by the relaxed roads of summer break, it is time for all road users to get back into their regular groove and exercise extra caution now that school is back in session.

It is true that only 13-14 percent of school-age children walk or bike the full way to school compared to past generations where 50% walked/biked in 1969. But that doesn’t mean children are riding in cars or school buses 100% of their trip to and from school. Kids are still taking to the streets and sidewalks on foot to meet a parent at pick-up time or boarding a school bus in the morning.

The times right before and after school hours are the most dangerous time of day for young people walking. Children ages 10 to 17 years old are one of the most vulnerable pedestrian populations because children are harder to see, are less predictable and lack proper judgment for determining safety. That being said, drivers need to take personal measures to drive safely especially when traveling close to schools or along bus routes.

Think about it. Have you ever overslept one morning and rushed out the door to get caught up in traffic around a school zone or stuck behind a stop-and-go school bus? We all know the feeling you get when you are running late. Anxiety builds with every minute as the time on the clock ticks closer to your start time. Some people take some risky measures to make sure they keep moving and arrive on time by speeding and not giving their undivided attention to the road.  Some drivers may even try to get around a stopped school bus.

The chances of a crash increases when drivers are drowsy, rushing, and/or distracted. A video report from NBC News states that there has been a sudden surge in dangerous driving in school zones or around school buses and every year 100 children are killed and 25,000 are injured in collisions while getting to and from school. The video shows two separate instances (of many reported cases) where drivers failed to stop for school buses and nearly hit children and distracted or careless driving is to blame.

You would think it would be impossible to miss a big yellow school bus stopped in the middle of the road with flashing lights but in 2013 two million more drivers passed school bus stop signs compared to 2011. School buses are the safest form of school transportation, but students are most likely to be hurt stepping on or off the bus. The areas 10 feet around a school bus, especially in front or on the sides of buses, are considered “danger zones” where impatient or distracted drivers are most likely to strike a child pedestrian.

All 50 states have made it illegal to pass a school bus that is loading or unloading students and in New Jersey all vehicles must come to a complete stop 25 feet away from a stopped school bus. This goes for both sides of a two lane road with no physical barrier. Drivers must remain stopped until the road is clear of students and the bus’s flashing lights have turned off. If caught violating this law, NJ drivers are subject to a $100 fine and five points on their driver’s license.

School zones are designed to be safe zones for children with crossing guards, crosswalks and a 25 MPH speed limit.  With schools back in session, motorists must make a conscious effort to travel with extra care to ensure a safe environment in the areas where children travel. This could mean leaving a few minutes earlier, eliminating all distractions, and remaining vigilant to students and school buses. If you are a parent, talk to your children about how they can travel safely to and from school with these tips from the National Safety Council.