Did you know there are specific rules to follow when you’re in a school zone? Here are some tips to help protect you from traffic violations while driving in and around school zones.

 

Know where the school zone is.

How can you recognize that you’re approaching a school zone? Typically, school zones have multiple signs signaling that you’re approaching or inside of them. These signs can be simple, like being labeled as speed limits for school zones, but some have flashing lights and speed bumps around them. These are all used to warn you, the driver, that you’re entering a school zone with different traffic regulations than the surrounding roads.

Slow down.

The signs telling you that you’re approaching a school zone more often than not will have a new speed limit posted on them. This limit is usually much lower than the rest of the road and can go as low as 10 or 15 miles per hour.

Expect more traffic.

Parents are coming to pick up and drop off their children, buses are leaving, and there are kids everywhere. Be prepared for an increase in slow-moving or stopped traffic.

Pedestrians are everywhere.

Parents, teachers, kids, administrators, everybody is leaving. Be mindful of crosswalks and remember that pedestrians have the right of way, even on unmarked crosswalks.

Be mindful of buses.

Buses will be in traffic with you, so it’s important to note them. Remember to stop when the bus has its stop sign out, and don’t try to pass the bus when it’s stopping. Watch out for students exiting the bus and crossing the road.

Obey whoever is guiding traffic.

Usually, if there’s a busy sidewalk or crosswalk, there will be a crossing guard, traffic officer, or police officer guiding traffic. The people directing traffic need to be followed over signals that usually guide traffic.

 

There are severe fines and penalties for disobeying traffic laws set for school zones. Some tickets can be double or triple to ensure student safety. If you were ticketed in a school zone, contact Craft Law Offices today at 252-752-0297 to see if we can help.