The start of a new school year is always filled with adjustments. That includes changes to traffic. School buses get back on the roads after summer break. New and inexperienced drivers become morning commuters. Kids climb on their bikes and ride to school. South Carolina drivers must stay alert to these changes as we enter the school year together. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 976 school-transportation-related crashes claimed 1,082 lives between 2013 and 2022, including 169 children who were walking, waiting for the bus, biking, or traveling to and from school. These numbers are a sobering reminder of why extra caution is so important during this time of year.
Stewart Law Offices is here to refresh our driving brains for the fall. Read our Back to School Driving Safety Tips to get the school year off to a safe, accident-and-injury-free start.
If You’re in Neighborhoods…
- Drive slowly. There will be more pedestrians on the roads — and much younger ones. It’s important to drive cautiously so that you have time to respond if a child darts into the road without looking both ways.
- Don’t pass school buses. If a school bus is slowing to pick up students, you are not allowed to pass on a two-lane road when the red light is flashing and the stop sign is extended, even if you are traveling in the opposite direction. On roads with four or more lanes, drivers coming in the opposite direction are not required to stop, but it’s smart to slow down and proceed with caution.
- Back up carefully. Be especially cautious when backing out of your driveway and in school parking lots. According to the nonprofit KidsandCars.org, at least 50 children are backed over every week in the United States.
- Look out for bikes. ‘Tis the season for kids to pull out their bikes and ride to school. Remember that bikes are less visible in traffic, particularly with smaller riders.
In School Zones…
- Obey the speed limit. If you’re not sure what the posted speed limit in the school zone is, go with the standard 25 m.p.h. rule to be safe.
- No double parking. It’s difficult to see if you’ve double parked in a school zone.
- Follow your school’s carpool rules. Schools are very specific in planning traffic flow during pickup and drop-off times. Learn the policy and follow it.
- Stay off the phone. The last thing you should be in a school zone is distracted. Children are unreliable as pedestrians. You need to be extra alert whenever you are in the vicinity of a school.
- Keep crosswalks completely clear. Never stop in or block a crosswalk — forcing pedestrians, especially children, into traffic is dangerous. If you or a loved one is injured in a pedestrian accident in Rock Hill, our Rock Hill pedestrian accident lawyers at Stewart Law Offices can help you pursue full compensation.
With Teen Drivers…
- Be watchful. Young drivers may be overly tentative behind the wheel or overconfident. If you’re around a new driver, don’t assume that he or she will be predictable in traffic. Be prepared for any potential scenario by maintaining extra distance and remaining patient.
- Support your teen. If you’re the parent of a teen driver, set driving rules and expectations. Consider signing a parent-teen driving contract like this one from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Sharing the Road with Bicycles
Kids on bikes can be hard to see and might not follow all traffic rules consistently. Here’s how to share the road safely:
- Leave at least 3 feet when passing a bicycle. Slow down and maintain a safe buffer.
- Yield when turning. Let riders pass if you’re turning left and they’re coming toward you. If turning right, allow them to go through the intersection first.
- Check for bikes before opening your door. Kids may be riding along the curb or between parked cars. Use the far-hand reach method reach across your body with your far hand to open the door, which forces you to turn and look.
- Watch for sudden moves. Children might turn without signaling or checking for traffic.
- Be especially alert near schools, parks, and residential areas where children are more likely to be riding.
South Carolinians all have a responsibility to keep back-to-school driving as safe as possible. If you or a loved one has already been hurt in a crash, a compassionate South Carolina car accident lawyer serving Columbia, Rock Hill, Spartanburg, and surrounding areas at Stewart Law Offices can meet with you to discuss your legal options.
Don’t wait to learn about your rights to compensation. Call us today for a free consultation.
Originally published September 2017. Refreshed August 2020. Updated March 2026 with current statistics and safety information.