originally posted: Sunday, August 8, 2010 10:30 am

http://www.yourwestvalley.com/schools/article_bd5bfaee-a1c5-11df-b925-001cc4c002e0.html

To help protect children going back to the classroom, AAA Arizona encourages motorists to follow these safety tips:

  • Walk around your vehicle before moving it, especially during morning and afternoon hours.
  • Scan between parked cars and other objects for signs that children could dart into the road.
  • Eliminate distractions. Taking your eyes off the road for two seconds doubles your chance of being involved in a crash. Avoid engaging in distracting behavior in order to be a safer driver and set a good example for young passengers and pedestrians.
  • Plan Ahead. Leave early for your destination and build in extra time for congestion. Modify your route to avoid school zones and traffic.
  • Drop children off on school property, not on neighborhood streets.
  • Obey traffic laws. Drive no faster than 15 miles per hour in or near a school zone. Fines double when "stop when children in crosswalk" signs are present. In addition, remember that school zones are non-passing zones. Finally, always stop for school buses that are loading or unloading students. It is illegal to pass a school bus with flashing red lights.
  • Obey the crossing guard at all school crossings. Stop before reaching a crosswalk when the stop sign is in an upright position and the crossing guard and children are in the crosswalk. Do not proceed until the children and crossing guard have cleared the roadway.
  • In addition, if your children will be walking or bicycling to school, remember to review safety precautions with them.