School back is finally back in session in the Sacramento area and this means drivers of every age will need to adjust to a new routine. For some this is as simple as sharing the road and for others it means an almost complete departure from how they usually drive. The responsibility is on the experienced drivers to demonstrate what safe driving looks like in order to prevent accidents. Here are a few tips worth reviewing for every driver in your home.
Driving in school zones requires a heightened level of caution. Students and negligent drivers make for a disastrous combination. Every driver needs to pay attention to what they are doing and what pedestrians around them are doing as well.
- Speed limits in school zones are there for a good reason: Most California school zones have a posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour. Driving the speed limit keeps everyone safe and helps prevent accidents.
- Don’t block crosswalks: Anytime you block a portion of a crosswalk, a student might be forced to walk around your car and into oncoming traffic.
- Always come to a complete stop: Many drivers have become fans of so-called California Stops. This is when you do a rolling stop instead of coming to a complete stop. Students who are biking or walking to school run the risk of being hurt by rolling stops.
- Avoid distractions: Distracted driving has dramatically increased as mobile phones have increased in use. We have talked to teen drivers who grew up watching their parent’s text and drive and emulating their parents can cause traffic deaths and injuries. Don’t put someone in danger by driving distracted.
- Pay attention to blind spots: Remember to look both ways before moving a car in a school zone. A student could be in your blind spot at any time.
Many children ride their bicycles to school… some are doing this for the first time. Even if your child has previously ridden their bike to school, you should talk to them about bicycle safety. The following tips can ensure that their trip to school is safe and free of bicycle accidents.
- Teach them the rules of the road. Ride on the right side of the road, going with traffic, in single file. Come to a complete stop before walking their bike across the street.
- Make sure your child wears a properly fitted helmet with buckles and a chin strap in use. If the helmet isn’t new, check to see if it is in good condition and fits. California law requires bicyclists under the age of 18 to wear helmets. Even though it’s the law it still makes sense to encourage your child to wear theirs. A helmet may protect your child if they are in an accident. A properly worn helmet can prevent catastrophic brain injuries.
- Teach your children to utilize bike lanes whenever they’re available.
- Encourage your children to avoid using of headphones, earbuds, a cell phone, or other devices while they’re on a bicycle. Using these can prevent them from hearing cars, car horns, or emergency vehicles when they are out riding their bikes. They also provide unnecessary distractions which can lead to an accident.
- Avoid congested intersections, find routes and cycle on streets with less traffic. This will help them understand bus and bicycle safety.
- Make sure your child is cautious around locations with driveways, junctions, and parked cars, as these pose unique risks to bikers.
We represent people who are injured because of the careless and reckless acts of others. At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. The reason that insurance companies have paid our clients in excess of $130,000,000.00 is that we get the facts and are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial when insurance companies fail to offer full compensation. We help with serious injuries that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth, LLP. Our attorneys have more than 60 years of experience specializing in only representing injured people. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 888-809-1075 or visit www.gblegal.com We would be honored to represent you!
