Driving under any circumstance requires you to exhibit special care and attention to your surroundings. However, as any auto insurance professional will attest, the need for precaution increases when you drive through a school zone or behind a school bus. Children are small, hard to see, and often run into the roadway without looking. Below are some essential driving safety tips for operating a vehicle around school-aged children.

Safety Tips for Driving in School Zones

1. Proceed With Caution

In the decade between 2005 and 2014, nearly 1,200 school transportation-related crashes occurred in Ohio—averaging more than 100 per year. When you enter a school zone or follow a school bus, always remain alert for the unexpected. Drive slowly until you are safely out of the area. Never pass a school bus as it slows to make a pickup. Chances are a child late for the bus may dash in front of you without warning. Put down all drinks, foods, and devices, and keep your eyes on the road.

2. Stop in Both Directions for School Buses

Ohio law states that, on undivided roads, traffic in both directions must come to a complete stop for school buses as they load and unload passengers. Leave plenty of room for kids to pass between your vehicle and the bus. You may be ticketed if you fail to stop when bus lights begin flashing and the stop sign near the driver's window swings out. Failure to abide by this rule may result in a $500 fine, a suspended license, and a jump in your auto insurance rates. On divided roads of four or more lanes, traffic doesn’t have to stop for buses dropping kids off on the opposite side.

3. Always Obey Speed Limits

In school zones, speed limits are strictly enforced. Under Ohio law, the 25 mph speed limit in school zones drops to 20 mph during recess and when schools open and close. When you see lights flashing on a school zone sign, it signals that children are out and about, so drive with extra care.

For help designing an auto insurance policy that protects your vehicle and your family, contact Patton Insurance Group in Springboro, OH. They are an independent agency that represents some of the nation's most respected insurance companies, including Progressive®, Erie Insurance®, and Safeco®. They have served clients in southern Montgomery County and northern Warren County since 2010. In addition to auto insurance, they also specialize in business, life, home, and renters insurance. Visit their website to connect with them online, or call (937) 886-9966 to request an insurance quote.