AAA is issuing a safety alert for all Florida drivers, as students prepare to return to school.
“Get ready for heavier traffic than normal, especially at first, since a lot of parents like to drive their kids to campus during the first few days back,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “It would be a good idea to budget an extra half hour for your morning commute. This is important, because drivers who are running late are more likely to speed and take unnecessary risks while behind the wheel. That endangers everyone on the roadway.”
According to a recent AAA survey, more than half of Floridians typically drive through a school zone (57%) or pass a school bus stop (55%) on their normal driving route. “These school zones and bus stops have not been active for the past couple of months. So, drivers will need to adjust their morning habits,” Jenkins continued. “Slow down and watch for young students near traffic lanes, because they may not be watching for you.”
“When driving through an active school zone, it’s extremely important to lower your speed and raise your awareness,” Jenkins continued. “Remember, in Florida it is illegal to use your handheld mobile device while driving through an active school zone.”
Nationwide, nearly 1 out of every 5 children (14 and younger) who dies in a traffic crash is a pedestrian. While it’s important for drivers to exercise caution, pedestrians have a shared responsibility for staying safe.
“Distracted pedestrians can be just as consequential as a distracted driver,” Jenkins said. “Now is an important time to talk to your students about the rules of the road and ways to stay safe. Discourage them from wearing earbuds or looking down at digital devices while standing or walking near traffic lanes. Otherwise, they may not detect an approaching vehicle.”
AAA – The Auto Club Group provides guidance for parents of young pedestrians, as part of its School’s Open Drive Carefully campaign. It also released the following advice:
For Pedestrians
For Bicyclists
For Students at the Bus Stop
According to the AAA survey, 19 percent of respondents admit to driving around a school bus while its red lights are flashing, and its stop arms are extended. Florida law requires motorists to stop when approaching a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing and STOP arms extended. The only exception is on a divided highway with a raised divider.
School bus laws explained:
About AAA - The Auto Club Group
The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America with more than 13 million members across 14 U.S. states and two U.S. territories. ACG and its affiliates provide members with roadside assistance, insurance products, banking and financial services, travel offerings and more. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 64 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA’s mission is to protect and advance freedom of mobility and improve traffic safety. For more information, get the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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