“Our children depend on your leadership” is a message that has been featured countless times in various media to remind motorists of safe driving behaviors to prevent serious injuries and deaths of children in car accidents. But how many embed that message as they speed through a school zone to get to work on time? How many remember the message while texting their spouse, friend, or colleague while driving through a school zone?

Many child pedestrians are killed on the streets or sidewalks in their school zones due to the reckless and irresponsible behaviors of motorists. In 2009, 183 child pedestrians between the ages of 5 and 15 were killed in car accidents. In 2008, 20% of all children between the ages of 5 and 9 who died in traffic accidents across the country were pedestrians, or 78 deaths. Here is another message to remember while driving: “Slow down, you’re never far from a school.”

At most schools, the school zone speed limit is 15 or 20 mph. Special speed limit signs are posted around schools to alert one when entering the zone. These signs have flashing lights to tell you when the lower speed limit is in effect. There is also a sign to indicate when you have left the school zone. The reasons for the lower speed limits around school children are obvious. Children will cross the street on foot and on their bikes. There will be extra heavy traffic of parents picking up their children. Children are also very unpredictable, so you never know when a child will rush across the street when she’s not supposed to. In addition, there will be school buses going in and out of the school. Therefore, the following are numerous school zone safety tips and what you need to know for motorists:

• Because of their size, it is difficult for children to see motorists or for motorists to see them. Because their peripheral vision is about a third narrower than an adult’s, children cannot see a motorist approaching from the right or left as quickly as an adult can.
• Children also have difficulty judging a car’s speed and distance, often thinking that if they can see the driver, the driver can see them.
• Drivers must respect the speed limits at all times, but especially around children. When driving in school zones, near playgrounds, or in neighborhoods where children may be playing, motorists should always expect a child to run out into the road.
• When turning left at a green light or turning right at a red light, drivers should be aware of pedestrians as well as cars. Pedestrians always have the right of way in these situations.
• Please be courteous to the school crossing guards. These guards put in countless hours helping our children cross busy streets as they arrive and leave school. Crossing guards are often met with hostile attitudes from people who are more concerned with their own personal agendas than the safety of school children.
• While picking up children, do not stop or park in the crosswalk.
• Avoid using a cell phone in and around school areas. Whether you’re texting, talking, or making a call, it can affect your ability to react quickly. Again, children’s actions can be unpredictable. Additionally, many drivers overlook school zone speed limit signs and signals due to cell phone distraction.
• When a school bus stops, you must stop. Never pass a school bus that is loading or unloading children. Passing a stopped school bus is a four point infraction and is very dangerous.
• Apply the SIPDE Defensive Driving Formula in school zones. S=Search (the driving environment)I= Identify (predetermined or possible dangers), P= Predict (the worst course of action other drivers or passengers could take in those scenarios)D=Decide (what you will do to avoid a crash), E=Run (do what you decided to do).

In a school zone scenario, an example would be: SEARCH the school zone environment; IDENTIFY any potential hazards or predetermined hazards, such as children walking too close to the curb; PREDICT the worst course of action children might take, such as abruptly crossing the street or crossing between moving vehicles; DECIDE what you will do, such as keep a safe following distance, slow down a couple of miles even if you are driving within the speed limit, and give your full attention to the school zone environment; and finally EXECUTE your decisions.

Worry, personal agenda or impatience is not worth causing the deaths of children in car accidents. By focusing on that thought process and mindset every day as we drive, we can be key stakeholders in being in the cool zone of driving.