With the start of another school year, there are several cautions for students, parents, and the everyday driver to take to keep things safe on the road. Here is a list of tips derived from the National Safety Council to help avoid any incident related to driving during the school year.

 For Students and Parents

• Unload/load your children on the same side of the street as the school. This way your children won’t need to cross the busy street on foot.
• If your child walks to school, make sure they use the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk available, teach them to walk on the side of the street facing traffic.
• When waiting for the bus, teach your children to stay 6 feet or 3 big steps away from the curb.
•  If your child needs to cross the street in front of the bus, instruct them that they should be able to see the bus driver at all times.

For All Drivers

• Avoid pulling too far forward at a stop, causing your car to block the crosswalk. This forces pedestrians to go around you and could put them in danger.
• Never pass a school bus that is stopped to unload children. This action is illegal in all 50 states and is extremely dangerous for the children involved.
• The area around a school bus is the most dangerous for children, always keep your car at least 10 feet away.
• Be vigilant of children bicycling to school, they commonly turn without looking or signaling.
•  Don’t pass a vehicle that is stopped for pedestrians, or a vehicle that is loading/unloading children near a school.