Back to school season is here! You know what that means? More school buses, student drivers, and school zone speed traps to look out for. In case you need a refresher course on some of the rules of the road we’ve listed a few below, pay close attention, you never know when there might be a pop quiz!
School Zones always come up quickly and it’s important to slow down and follow the speed limit for the safety of the nearby students as well as yourself. Don’t forget:
- The speed limit in a school zone is 20 MPH.
- School zones have a sign with the posted speed limit and either flashing lights during the hours that the speed limit is in effect, or will state those hours on the school zone sign itself.
- Don’t forget to keep an eye out for crossing guards or any nearby children that are walking or riding bikes.
Now that students are back in school, school buses are back on the road! Bet you missed seeing them on your morning commute right? Similar to fire trucks, there are a few specific laws that apply to these vehicles while driving:
- You must keep a distance of 100 feet between your car and a school bus.
- You must come to a complete stop behind the bus if the red lights are flashing and the stop sign is extended, regardless of what side of the road you are on. This is so students entering and exiting the bus can safely cross to either side of the street. You must remain stopped until the lights stop flashing or the stop sign folds back.
- A first violation of this law can lead to a license suspension and a fine of $250, so pay attention and keep your distance!
There are a few other laws that we wanted to point out that are good to remember especially when there are more students on the roads:
- It is state law to yield to pedestrians at cross walks, whether they are already crossing or waiting to cross.
- Drivers under the age of 18 (students, that means you!) are prohibited from using any and all mobile devices while driving, the only exception is to report an emergency.
- Junior operators (drivers between the ages of 16 1/2 and 18 who have had their license for less than 6 months) are prohibited from driving between the hours of 12:30 AM – 5:00 AM unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Junior operators are prohibited from carrying passengers under the age of 18 (except for siblings) for the first 6 months of driving, this is an attempt to minimize distractions.
These are some of the most important rules to remember, especially now that students are back on the road! Keep these laws in mind next time you are driving through a school zone, at a crosswalk, or behind a school bus. Although these laws may slow us down at times, they save lives and benefit the students as well as the drivers! Don’t forget to make sure you are properly insured! Contact us at MassDrive for a quote and ask our reps about the different types of coverage you would need to make sure you are totally covered in case of an accident!
Photo By: Svadilfari