JACKSON, Miss. — Now that students are returning to school, morning traffic has increased, especially around school zones, which may lead to more accidents involving children.
As part of “Back to School Safety Month,” the Mississippi Department of Transportation reminded drivers and students to take necessary safety precautions. It urged everyone to be especially careful when traveling in school zones and any area where children are present.
MDOT cited the National Safe Routes to School program, which said more children are hit by cars near schools than any other location.
Help mitigate accidents and congestion by using the following tips:
When dropping off:
- Don’t double park — it blocks visibility for other children and vehicles.
- Don’t load or unload children across the street from the school.
- Carpool, if possible, to reduce the number of vehicles at the school.
Sharing the road with young pedestrians:
- Don’t block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light or waiting to make a turn — this often forces pedestrians to walk around the vehicle and enter the path of traffic.
- Stop and yield to pedestrians when flashers are blinking, and always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard.
- Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.
Sharing the road with school buses:
- Never pass a bus from either direction if it is stopped to load or unload children.
- If the yellow or red lights on the bus are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop.
- The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children, so stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus.
Sharing the road with bicyclists:
- When passing a bicyclist, proceed in the same direction slowly and leave 3 feet between your car and the cyclist.
- Watch for bike riders turning in front of you without looking or signaling — children especially have a tendency to do this.
- Watch for bikes coming from driveways or behind parked cars.
- Check side mirrors before opening your door.
Parents should follow these rules when driving and also teach their children to be safe on the route to and from school. Students should look both ways before crossing the street, stand at least 6 feet away from the curb at the bus stop and wear a helmet when riding a bike.