Posted on August 18, 2013
Before you know it, more than 1.8 million students will return to school in Pennsylvania.With that in mind, AAA Mid-Atlantic and the Mid-Atlantic Foundation for Safety and Education remind motorists to be alert for walking children and stopped school buses and to take extra care in school zones.Twenty percent of all children between 5 and 15 who were killed in 2010 crashes were pedestrians, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
In 2012, 10 children in that age group who were walking to school in Pennsylvania were killed by vehicles. No statistics for 2011 were available.
"Back to school is an exciting time for children. Unfortunately, children are unpredictable and not always mindful of traffic safety. Children may have difficulty gauging the distance and speed of an approaching car, and may struggle to recognize and react to potentially hazardous situations," said AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Jenny M. Robinson.
AAA Mid-Atlantic recommends motorists do the following:
In 2012, 10 children in that age group who were walking to school in Pennsylvania were killed by vehicles. No statistics for 2011 were available.
"Back to school is an exciting time for children. Unfortunately, children are unpredictable and not always mindful of traffic safety. Children may have difficulty gauging the distance and speed of an approaching car, and may struggle to recognize and react to potentially hazardous situations," said AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Jenny M. Robinson.
AAA Mid-Atlantic recommends motorists do the following:
- Slow down -- and obey the 15-mph speed limit in school zones.
- Come to a complete stop at intersections with stop signs. Don't make a "rolling" stop.
- Look for clues of nearby children, such as crossing guards, bicycles and playgrounds.
- Look between parked cars. Children, even teens, run out into traffic, usually not at intersections.
- Always stop for unloading or loading buses. It's the law. Flashing yellow lights on a school bus mean it's preparing to stop. Red flashing lights and an extended stop arm indicate the bus has stopped -- and you must, too.
- Eliminate driver distraction. Don't look away from the road. Stay off the phone. Don't text -- it's illegal! Don't adjust radio knobs, or do anything else that takes your eyes off the road.
- Always obey school crossing guards.
- Look both ways every time you cross a street.
- Use crosswalks and corners to cross roads even when there are no vehicles.
- Don't rush or run. Drivers can't always see you.
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