Tips to Prevent Injury During the Back-to-School Season

It’s that time of year when the kids head back to school 
and the parents have to deal with more morning traffic on their commute to work as a result. Drivers should be more careful when driving with the increase in pedestrian traffic, with more kids walking to school and crossing streets on a regular basis. Pedestrians also need to take more precautions when traveling on foot, particularly in the mornings and afternoons.

If you or someone you know has been injured as a result of another driver’s negligence, talk with a personal injury attorney to file a lawsuit. Here are some tips for adults and children to ensure their safety throughout the school year:

Tips for Drivers

·      One of the most important pieces of advice typically given to drivers these days is: don’t text and drive. Texting and driving has been found to be as dangerous as drinking and driving, or driving when tired.

·      Watch for areas where heavy pedestrian traffic is experienced. Look out for signs that mark school zones, bus stops or other areas with a lot of pedestrians.

·      Make some more time to get to work to save you some frustration during your commute. If you’re in congested traffic in the peak of rush hour, you may feel the urge to speed, which presents a huge danger to pedestrians.

·      Always yield to school buses. Some drivers may grow impatient when stopped by a bus and drive around it, but it’s a moving violation and safety hazard to do so. As soon as you see a bus’s blinking stop sign come out at the side ahead of you, it’s time to stop. You can of course avoid school buses by making sure you leave before or after bus routes.

·      Be prepared at all times. With more children present during the day, you should be aware of their activity. Kids have a tendency to horse around and are often unpredictable, making it necessary to be even more aware of your surroundings than usual.

Tips for Kids

·      Inform your children of basic traffic safety, such as telling them to only cross the sidewalk at crosswalks and stop signs where it’s safe.

·      Make sure that if your kids walk or ride their bike to school that they only travel on designated sidewalks and bike paths, and ensure kids who ride their bikes wear protective equipment when riding.

·      Help make sure your child is safe by assigning them a walking buddy. Have them walk to and from school with a sibling or friend on a route which you know well.

Taking these tips into consideration, you should be able to help ensure the safety of both you and those around you throughout the year. If you or someone you love suffers injury, personal injury attorneys are available to make sure negligent parties are held liable for compensation.

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