Back to School Driving Tips

It’s back to school time again, so start thinking about how your driving habits will need to change in order to make the roads as safe as possible.

For parents, this is the most stressful time of year as they scramble to buy their children’s school supplies and make the most of the remaining days of summer. Most kids are also equally stressed because they are worried which teachers they will have and if their friends will be in their class. This makes everyone less attentive, especially on the road. As a result of the lack of attention paid to traffic safety during the back-to-school season, we’ve put together a list of things to keep an eye out for.

Most Canadian municipalities have implemented a 30 km/h speed limit in school zones, so be aware of the rules. If you’re driving in a different province or city, the speed limit rules will differ. Only when students are in school will some school zones be enforced. Most school zones, for example, are only in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. In comparison, some school zones are in effect from 7:00 am to 9:00 am, 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm on weekdays. As a general rule, it’s important to be aware of your town’s school zone laws.

Keep an eye out for drop-off zones, as different schools will have their own policies on how to drop off and pick up children from school. The bus drop-off and pick-up zones and parent drop-off and pick-up zones are common at most schools, but it’s important to know the policies in your school. Also make sure to never park in a bus lane! Finally, make sure your kids get out of the car on the right-hand side so they can walk straight to the sidewalk instead of crossing the street.

On the first few days of school, students and parents are often filled with excitement and anxiety, making it difficult to focus on traffic safety. When driving through school zones, slow down and take extra care. If you’re walking your child to school, be aware of oncoming traffic and use designated crosswalks whenever possible, and never cross the street in front of a parked car. Make yourself as noticeable as possible to other motorists at all times.

Be on the lookout for school buses, and if you see one parked off to the side, avoid driving past it in case a child steps out in front of it. When a bus is stopped and its arm and stop sign are out, you should always stop 10 feet behind it.

You should also be aware of cyclists during the school season. Pass a cyclist only when no oncoming traffic is present, and maintain a distance of three feet from the bicyclist at all times. It’s important to share the road with bicyclists! Bicyclists have the right of way when turning right, and you should always check your side mirrors when making a turn to make sure there are no bicyclists in the area.

If everyone keeps an eye out for one another, we will all be safer this back-to-school season!

Questions? Our Advisors are Happy to Help!

If you have questions about anything you've read in this resource page, contact your nearest Signature Tire dealer for more information. We are passionate in assisting our customers make the best choices to keep their vehicles in tip-top shape and keep their families safe.

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