Back to School Brings Bigger Road Risks: 5 Driving Habits to Keep Everyone Safe

Back-to-school season brings new traffic patterns, increased pedestrian activity and school bus stops. Here’s five safety tips to help commercial drivers reduce risk, avoid violations and protect students.

Many commercial drivers travel the same routes every day. But when school resumes, those familiar roads become far less predictable. Children walk to school or ride bicycles, scooters and e-bikes. School buses make frequent stops, parent pickup and drop-off lines spill into travel lanes and crossing guards may temporarily override traffic signals. 

The result is a driving environment that’s busier and more complex, with a greater risk of accidents. Changing daylight conditions during the back-to-school season present another layer of risk, with fatal crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists rising 13% in the weeks following the fall time change. As legislators debate permanent daylight saving time, the prospect of year-round darker morning commutes makes driver alertness more critical than ever. 

Back-to-school season changes the driving environment in ways that demand more than simply slowing down. Commercial drivers who recognize seasonal hazards and adjust their driving habits accordingly can help reduce crash risk, avoid costly violations and protect some of the road’s most vulnerable users.

5 ways to reduce risk during back-to-school season  

1. Slow down and leave more room to react.
School zones require more than simply following the posted speed limit. Traffic can stop suddenly for school buses, crossing pedestrians or parent pickup lines extending into travel lanes. Children may enter the roadway or change direction without warning. Reducing speed and increasing following distance gives you more time to recognize hazards and respond safely. Those extra seconds can make the difference between a safe stop and a preventable crash, especially for vehicles with longer stopping distances.

2. Expect the unexpected.
Do not assume that children recognize traffic hazards or that they will make safe decisions as your vehicle approaches. A study published by Safe Kids Worldwide reported that unsafe street crossing behavior was observed in about 80% of students. Unsafe drop off or pick up behavior was also observed in nearly 1 in 3 drivers. Students may ride bicycles, scooters or e-bikes, emerge from between parked vehicles or cross outside designated crosswalks. Routinely scan sidewalks, intersections and parked vehicles for potential hazards––and be prepared to react to sudden movements. 

3. Anticipate school bus stops.
While all states require drivers to stop for a school bus with its stop-arm deployed and red lights flashing, the specific requirements can vary depending on the type of roadway and state law. For example, traffic traveling in the opposite direction from a stopped school bus on a divided highway with a physical median may not be required to stop. However, on many undivided roadways—including some four-lane roads—traffic in both directions must stop when a school bus extends its stop arm. When the stop arm is extended, it signals that children may be entering or crossing the roadway and should never be ignored or driven around.

At least 30 states have enacted laws authorizing school buses to use automated stop-arm camera technology to identify and cite drivers who illegally pass a stopped school bus. Illegally passing a stopped school bus carries significant penalties while creating a serious safety risk for students entering or leaving the bus.

4. Remain alert during pickup and drop-off times.
School arrival and dismissal periods—typically between 8–9 a.m. and 3–5 p.m.—are among the highest-risk times to be driving near a school. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows more school-age pedestrians are killed between 7–7:59 a.m. and 3-3:59 p.m. than any other hour during the day. During these windows, expect parent vehicles to queue into travel lanes, buses making frequent stops and reduced visibility around school entrances. Slow down, increase following distance and stay alert for students moving unpredictably near the roads. 

5. Always follow crossing guard instructions.
Crossing guards may temporarily override traffic signals to help students cross safely. Even when a traffic signal turns green, drivers must be prepared to stop if a crossing guard is directing children through an intersection or crosswalk. Following crossing guard instructions can help prevent violations and reduce the risk of pedestrian-related crashes.

School zone violations can carry major consequences
For commercial drivers, a school zone violation can have consequences beyond a standard traffic ticket. Violations involving school zones or school buses often carry enhanced penalties and may affect a driver’s record, employability and fleet safety performance. For businesses, these incidents can increase insurance costs and operational risk. 

Putting safe driving habits into practice during back-to-school season and beyond is one of the most effective ways to keep students safe, avoid accidents and keep your record clean.

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