Back-To-School Safety Tips: Things You Should Know

Back To School Safety Tips: Be sure to stop and wait until a school bus pulls in its “stop signs” after picking up or dropping off students. Here’s a photo of a young boy and girl crossing the street to go home after a school bus dropped them off.

sonyae via Getty Images

I don’t want to sound like one of your parents, but it’s always a good idea to refresh your memory and your driving skills by reviewing some back-to-school safety tips.

Back-To-School Safety Tips For Drivers

During summer vacation, you don’t see kids walking around on busy streets and intersections as often as you do during the school year. So, it’s important to remember that you’re sharing the road with Clark County students now that school is back in session.

First of all, we all need to be aware of those school zones. There aren’t always flashing lights to warn us we’re entering a school zone. With this in mind, we need to put away our phones and pay attention to the speed limit signs. It’s equally important to slow down when driving through school zones. Better yet, slow down whenever you’re driving near a school during the daytime on weekdays.

Another key point is to always be aware of your surroundings. You know that intersection where you don’t come to a full stop before you make a right turn? Well, now there’s a crossing guard there. We all need to stop for a safety patrol officer or crossing guard using hand-held stop signs. To be sure, coming to a complete stop at all red lights and stop signs is even more important during the school year.

Photodisc via Getty Images

A caucasian female crossing guard wearing a wool cap, tan winter coat, and a maroon scarf tucked in around her neck. She is also wearing an orange safety vest over her coat and holding up a "stop" sign.

Furthermore, even though you may usually enter the crosswalk in order to make that quick right turn at a red light or stop sign, you don’t want to be doing that now that kids are back in school. Stopping and blocking a crosswalk with your vehicle forces pedestrians to move around you and possibly walk in front of moving traffic.

What To Do When A School Bus Is In Front Of Your Car

In general, speeding through school zones and driving around a stopped school bus are two of the most common no-no's. As a matter of fact, the fines are huge if you get caught committing one of these driving infractions.

Basically, when you see a school bus come to a stop in front of you, you need to come to a complete stop. It doesn’t matter how late you are for work or your next appointment. See those flashing red lights and the stop signs on a yellow school bus? Do not try to drive around it. Not to mention you can receive a fine of up to $1,000 dollars! Additionally, your license can be suspended for up to one year! It just ain’t worth it.

For that reason, get more back-to-school safety tips for students and drivers. Just check out the Nevada Department of Traffic website by clicking here.

Larry Martino is the long-time afternoon drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of Larry Martino and not necessarily those of Beasley Media Group, LLC.

Back To School Clark County Safety Tips

Larry MartinoEditor

Larry Martino has been the afternoon drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ since 2007. He is also Music Director and Assistant Program Director. He’s been a professional radio broadcaster since 1980, serving as on-air talent, Program Director, and Music Director during his career. As a content creator for 96.3 KKLZ, Larry specializes in writing articles about music, recording artists, movies, food/restaurants, and hockey.