The school year has rolled around again. Every autumn, as children return to school and the buses carrying them return to the road, it's important to take some time to focus on driver safety. School zones require increased vigilance and reduced speed. What steps should drivers take to keep school zones safe?
School Bus Safety
School buses make frequent stops, and the passengers getting on and off are often small and hard to see. Drivers need to be aware of the regulations designed to protect children. In Oregon, when any school bus is stopped and flashing its red lights, drivers in both directions must stop at least 20 feet away.
In Oregon, it does not matter how many lanes there are; all drivers in both directions must stop. In Washington State, if the roadway is three lanes or more, a driver approaching in the opposite direction may pass.
School Zone Safety
School safety zones have a speed limit of 20 miles per hour. They are marked by signs at the beginning and the end of the zone. Safety zones may begin 100 or 200 feet from the school's property line or crosswalk. Not every school uses safety zones, as some are located in residential areas with similarly low speed limits.
Neglecting to abide by school zone speed limits can lead to increased penalties. Many traffic fines are doubled in these zones. Additionally, traffic violations can increase the cost of a driver's car insurance.
It is important to abide by the low speed limits around schools. When a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle going 30 mph, he or she has a 60% chance of survival. Being hit by a car travelling at 40 mph is almost always fatal for a pedestrian. Travelling at slower speeds is designed to allow for better reaction time, and less serious injuries in the event a collision does occur.
Auto Insurance and Risk
At Fox Insurance Agency, we specialize in prevention. The elimination of risk is our business. We not only provide auto insurance, we also work to educate our clients. By being aware of back-to-school safety, we can all help to prevent accidents.
Located in Beaverton, Oregon, we proudly serve clients throughout Oregon and Washington State. As an independent agency, we are able to provide car insurance quotes from a number of nationally known providers. Contact us today. We would be happy to help you find the coverage you need.
The information in this article was obtained from various sources and is not all inclusive regarding the subject matter. This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements, nor is it intended to replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional. The definitions, terms and coverage in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.
