AAA Provides Safety Tips for Driving in School Zones as Back-to-School Approaches – WSOC TV

CHARLOTTE — A new AAA survey shows many drivers admit to speeding and using their phones when crossing school zones, and the auto club group has the best safety tips for drivers to stay safe as they approach the Back to School.

According to the AAA survey, 44% of people admitted to speeding while driving in an active school zone and 30% of people admitted to using their phone while driving in a school zone.

“When driving in a school zone, it is extremely important that you reduce your speed and be more aware to ensure that you can react to any potential danger on the roadway,” the AAA spokeswoman said. , Tiffany Wright. “Remember that in North Carolina it is illegal to use your handheld mobile device while driving in an active school zone.”

AAA said that as the start of the school year approaches, it is important to stay safe, especially with more traffic.

“Expect more foot traffic in neighborhoods and along city streets. Since children may move quickly and cross the road unexpectedly, it is important to constantly watch the road for people while driving and be prepared to stop at any time. You can reduce the risk of injury by slowing down and avoiding distractions like using your cell phone or eating while driving,” Wright said.

Groupe Auto Club advises drivers to:

• Slow down in school zones. A pedestrian struck by a car traveling at 25 miles per hour is two-thirds less likely to be killed than a pedestrian struck by a car traveling even 10 miles per hour faster.
• Come to a complete stop. More than a third of drivers pass stop signs in school zones.
• Eliminate all distractions. Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for even two seconds doubles the risk of a crash.
• Share the road with cyclists. Children on bicycles are often unstable and unpredictable.
• Talk to your teen about it. Car crashes are a leading cause of death among teens in the United States, and 1 in 4 fatal crashes involving teens occur after school hours.

Advice for pedestrians:

• Be careful at all times. Avoid texting or wearing headphones.
• Use sidewalks when available or walk against traffic to see oncoming cars.
• Be more visible by wearing reflective and bright clothing.

Advice for cyclists:

• Wear a helmet and fluorescent or brightly colored clothing.
• Ride in the direction of traffic and stay as far to the right as possible.
• Don’t wear headphones so you can hear traffic.
• Cross the street at the intersection.

For students at the bus stop:

• Arrive at least 5 minutes before the scheduled arrival time of the bus.
• Stay five paces from the club.
• Be alert and remove headphones so you can hear oncoming traffic.
• Wait for the bus to come to a complete stop and for the driver to signal you to board.

It is also important to know as drivers that when a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing and STOP arms extended, drivers should also stop.

On a two-lane street, all drivers traveling in either direction on a two-way street must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal and remain stopped until the the road is clear of children and the school bus stop arm is removed.

In a multi-lane paved median, all drivers traveling in either direction must stop for a school bus displaying a stop signal and must remain stopped until the road is cleared. clear of children and that the school bus stop arm is removed.

On a divided highway, traffic approaching an oncoming school bus does not need to stop if there is a raised barrier or concrete divider or at least five feet of unobstructed space. pavement separating traffic lanes.

For more back-to-school tips, click here.

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