Safety tips for back-to-school days!
It’s that time of the year again! Back-to-school days across Arapahoe County are in full swing. This can be a challenging time as commuters and school users adapt to changing traffic patterns and school pick-up and drop-off routines.
That’s why it’s important for all drivers and school users to remind themselves about safe and polite driving practices and the rules of sharing the roads. Drivers, buses, cyclists and pedestrians can co-exist safely in school zones by following these helpful tips, courtesy of the National Safety Council:
If you’re a school user
- Plan beforehand, and don’t load or unload children across the street from the school or in any area not designated as a school pick up or drop off area.
- Carpool/ride share to reduce the number of vehicles at the school.
Sharing the road with school users
- Always stop for a school crossing guard or uniformed officer or crossing guard holding up a stop sign.
- In a school zone when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection.
Sharing the road with school buses
- If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop.
- The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus and leave a view for pedestrians and school bus drivers and or school supervisors.
Reduce delays
- Check with your district for using the school bus. Using school buses reduces traffic congestion for everyone.
- If you’re driving your child to school, check with the school for the pick-up and drop-off policies, and then follow them. Most traffic congestion around schools can be mitigated by everyone adhering to an efficient traffic operations plan.
Drivers should be aware of school zones and expect increased school area activity between 7 and 9 a.m. and 2 and 4 p.m. during the week. Arapahoe County suggests checking with the schools along your route for specifics. Plan alternate routes to avoid peak hour delays and allow everyone to arrive at their destinations safely.??
