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Here Comes the School Year: Learn How to Stay Safe Driving

Every driver on the road must do everything they can to stay safe. There are many tips that can help you increase safety and reduce your chances of causing a car accident but of course there is no way to prevent others from causing an accident. Read on to learn about some of the best school year safety driving tips. Then contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 if you need a legal consultation about an accident you have been involved in.

The unique issues with school-year driving

First, it is important to understand just why school-year driving can be so dangerous. Think about the potential for school bus accidents, think about increased traffic around drop off and pick up times, and consider that school holidays are on the way too. All of these factors can come together to make it more dangerous during school months than other months.

Know where to drop off the kids at school

First and foremost, if you will be dropping the kids off at school then we recommend making sure you know where to stop in advance. It may seem that driving up to school and dropping a kid off would be simple, but two-way roads may turn into one-way roadways during drop offs and signs are not always clear. Your school should have information for you about their unique drop off rules.

Know what to do when you see a school bus

Do you know what your legal responsibilities are when you see a school bus? First, unless you are on a divided highway, you should never pass a school bus that has stopped. If the arm of the school bus is extended and the red lights are on, then you must stop and wait. If the bus’s yellow lights are flashing, then you should slow down. In fact, we recommend slowing down any time you are driving near a school bus.

Keep an eye out for kids

You cannot expect that children are going to always look both ways and cautiously cross the street. When you are at a bus stop, crosswalk, or school zone, be on the lookout for kids. Assume that they may run out in the street without looking. Drive accordingly.

Reduce driving distractions

It is never wise to text and drive. It is never wise to talk on the phone while driving unless you have a hands-free device. In fact, California residents believe this strongly enough that laws have been passed that make both activities illegal. Unfortunately, the fact that something is illegal does not mean that it stops happening. If you do break either of these laws, please be sure not to do so near schools.

Know what to do if you are in an accident

In addition to avoiding accidents with smart driving, you should also be armed with the information of what to do if you are in an accident. You can contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation to ensure your rights are being covered.