As Kentucky kids head back to school for another year, all drivers need to be prepared for changes in the traffic flow – and for more pedestrians. That’s particularly the case for areas around schools and bus stops.
For example, drivers will have to abide by reduced speed limits (typically 25 miles per hour) in certain areas when children may be present after not having to worry about it during the summer months
Knowing when to stop for a school bus
Too many drivers have forgotten – if they ever fully knew – the rules of the road when they’re near a school bus. This, of course, can have serious and even tragic consequences. Last year, there were approximately 1,000 crashes involving school buses.
It’s crucial to know when to stop for a school bus. According to one Kentucky AAA official, “If that school bus has its stop arm out, that means stop. It doesn’t mean go slower and go around….” That’s because kids who are getting off the bus could be going in front of it and crossing the street.
All vehicles traveling in the same direction of the bus need to stop, even if they’re in another lane, as long as there’s not a divider. On a two-lane road without a divider, vehicles traveling in both directions must stop.
It’s best to look well ahead of you for school buses – not just if you’re near a school but if you’re in a neighborhood where the bus may be picking up or dropping off kids. If a driver in front of you stops suddenly when they notice the stopped bus, they can cause a chain reaction collision.
Other areas to take special care
It’s also to be watchful of parents dropping off and picking up kids. They can line up and pour in and out of school parking lots in the mornings and afternoons. It’s best to avoid those areas at busy times if possible.
Areas where kids wait for buses can also be dangerous – particularly for kids. There have been too many tragic situations in which children are killed by drivers who were speeding, distracted or negligent.
Changes in traffic patterns that come with the return to school can be dangerous to everyone on the road – no matter how careful they are. If you’ve suffered injuries in a crash caused by another driver, don’t agree to a settlement until you know what kind of economic and non-economic damages you have. Getting legal guidance can help you get the maximum compensation.