7 Driver Safety Tips As MD Kids Head Back To School

MARYLAND — With most Maryland students heading back to school this week, drivers need to watch for more pedestrians and bicyclists in school zones, AAA Mid-Atlantic warns.

"AAA encourages everyone to slow down, limit distractions and look out for each other during this busy time," said Ragina C. Ali, spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic in Maryland.

Maryland State Police and the Maryland Center for School Safety also urge drivers to be alert as children get on and off school buses.

In a typical school year, more than 600,000 Maryland students ride school buses.

Drivers must stop at least 20 feet from the bus, regardless of which direction they’re approaching. You cannot attempt to pass by the bus until the stop signal and flashing lights are off, and the bus is moving. Violation of these laws incurs a $250 fine if caught on camera, and up to $570 and a three-point penalty on a driver’s license if stopped by a police officer, state police said in a news release.

Some Maryland school districts and first day of school dates are:

• Anne Arundel County schools resume Aug. 29 and 30
• Baltimore City schools resume Aug. 29
• Baltimore County schools resume Aug. 29
• Carroll County schools resume Sept. 6
• Harford County schools resume Sept. 6
• Howard County schools resume Aug. 29
• Montgomery County schools resume Aug. 29
• Prince George's County schools resume Aug. 29

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2011 to 2020, there were 1,009 fatal school-transportation-related crashes, and 1,125 people killed in those crashes — an average of 113 fatalities a year.

State police said from 2011 to 2020, 218 school-age children died in school-transportation-related crashes nationally, which included 44 occupants of school vehicles, 83 were occupants of other vehicles and 85 pedestrians.

In the past decade, more school-age pedestrians are killed between 7 and 8 a.m. and 3 and 4 p.m. than any other time of day, experts said.

The beginning of the school year is particularly dangerous since young, inexperienced drivers, school buses, student pedestrians and bicyclists are all sharing the road in the early morning and afternoon hours, AAA said in a news release.

AAA Tips for Back-to-School Safety

1. Eliminate distractions. Drivers and pedestrians should limit distractions. Talk with children about looking up and looking out for drivers when crossing the street. Adults can set an example by promising to put their phones away when behind the wheel and not to drive and text.
2. Brake for buses. More than 600,000 students ride school buses in Maryland. It is against the law to pass a school bus when red lights are flashing and the safety bar is extended. In Maryland, drivers who violate that law could face a fine of $570 citation and up to 3 points can be assessed to a license.
3. Slow down. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25 mph is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling just 10 mph faster.
4. Watch for bicycles. Children on bikes are often inexperienced, unsteady and unpredictable. Slow down and allow at least 3 feet of passing distance between your vehicle and the bicyclist. If your child rides a bicycle to school, require that they wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet.
5. Back up with caution. Every vehicle has blind spots. Check for children on the sidewalk, driveway and around your vehicle before slowly backing up. Teach your children to never play in, under or around vehicles — even those that are parked.
6. Come to a complete stop. Research shows that more than one-third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods. Always come to a complete stop, then check carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding.
7. Talk to your teen. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States, and more than one in four fatal crashes involving teen drivers occur between 3 and 7 p.m. Get more information and tips at TeenDriving.AAA.com.

Related: Back-To-School: What MD Requires For COVID-19, Other Diseases

The Maryland Center for School Safety encourages drivers to:

• Always pay attention when driving, especially in school zones and during school bus stops;
• Always stop when a bus stops; it is illegal to pass a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop-arm extended when it has stopped to load or unload students;
• Always ensure that any mask or face shield you wear does not prevent you from maintaining a clear line of sight when driving or walking near moving vehicles; and;
• Always remember that children’s brains are still developing. Don’t expect them to behave as you would when entering, exiting, or in a school bus; therefore, always maintain a safe distance from school buses at all times.

For additional school bus safety tips, visit the Maryland Highway Safety Office.