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As children head back to school, drivers need to be cautious in areas such as school zones, crosswalks, bus stops and wherever children may be around.

Below are some back to school driving tips:

Avoid reversing – It’s more difficult to see small children behind your vehicle.  If you do reverse, make sure to check all your blind spots before you proceed.

Anticipate the worst – The speed and distance away of oncoming vehicles is more difficult for young children to judge.  Always anticipate the chance that a small child may run in front of you by slowing down and preparing to brake.

Be familiar with school zones – Get in the habit of noticing where school zones and crosswalks are on routes that you normally take.   Make sure to reduce speed in school zones and wait for children to cross completely before proceeding.

Be careful around parked vehicles – Children waiting to cross may be difficult to see especially behind bigger parked vehicles.

Drop-Off Zone – If you are driving your children to school, make sure to drop them off away from traffic and close to school as possible.  Use the designated drop-off zone if the school has one.

Avoid using cell phones in specific areas – Never use cell phones or any other hand-held device while driving in school zones or areas where there are children.

Stop for school bus – Always stop for school buses with flashing red lights.
Do not proceed until the “stop sign” is closed.  Wait a few extra minutes after the bus is gone to ensure that there are no children present.

Watch out for pedestrians – Drivers must stop and yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians about to cross at marked and unmarked crosswalks.
 

Sources:
http://www.momsonthemove.com/article_detail.asp?id=75&category=Parenting
http://autos.aol.com/article/safety/v2/_a/back-to-school-safety/20060906100609990001
http://www.mpi.mb.ca/english/rd_safety/VulnerableRoadUsers/WatchForSchoolChildren.html
http://www.keepschoolssafe.org/back-to-school-safety-tips/
http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/070822-5.htm