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A new school year is approaching, which means school buses will be on the road and children will be walking to and from school. To keep everyone safe, there are laws in place that prioritize safe driving. Pay attention to these safety tips for drivers, because they will keep you and those around you safe.  

School bus law of Indiana

School bus laws differ from state to state, but in Indiana, the state law requires drivers to stop when a school bus is picking up or dropping off children. This is not a suggestion. You must stop when a school bus has its stop sign extended on the side of the bus and its red lights are flashing. Do not drive slowly next to the bus. Stop immediately and let the children load or leave the school bus.   

Sharing the road with others

Not only is it imperative that you pay attention to the road for the sake of school buses and children, but you should be cautious while sharing the road with everyone. This includes other motorists, pedestrians, buses of all kinds and cyclists. When you get behind the wheel, you have a duty to protect yourself and those around you. You can start by eliminating distracted driving.   

Sharing the road with pedestrians

While driving, pay attention to road signs, construction zones and pedestrian crossing areas. These are areas in which you will most likely encounter a pedestrian. Some pedestrians will be paying attention while others may rely on you, the driver, to watch out for them.   

The best way to prevent accidents between drivers and pedestrians is for both parties, the driver and the pedestrian, to pay attention while driving and walking by or on a road. Encourage family members to put their phones down while driving or walking across the street. This will remove an additional distraction that could cause an accident.   

Sharing the road with buses

In addition to school buses, you also should be aware of city buses, trollies (depending on your area), shuttles and more. If you are in or near a city, public transportation is likely to be in your area. There is public transportation signage that alerts drivers of bus stops, bus lanes and other information they need to know while sharing the road with buses.   

As you read these safety tips for all drivers, please note that there are more tips that you can find online or by visiting the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles website. There are also driver safety programs available to learn more about the rules of the road.   

Changing your driving habits 

Driving distracted is one of the major causes of auto accidents. Someone may be looking at their phone, changing to a different song, helping their child, eating or trying to retrieve an item from between the seats. These are all things that can wait until you are not driving. Put down your phone, choose a playlist before putting your car into drive, explain to your kids that you are driving and cannot turn around to assist them, eat after you arrive and leave the item between the seats until you are fully in park.   

As your teenager reaches the legal driving age, it is important to educate them on how to avoid accidents and if they are involved in one, how they may need to deal with it. This teenager safety guide is loaded with essential information for young or inexperienced drivers. Any driver choosing not to abide by these safety tips could experience an accident that may have been prevented.   

Whether school is in session or not, your focus on the road should always be the same. Pay attention to all zones, pedestrians and street signs while driving to ensure that the roads are safe for everyone.   

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