Pittsburgh, PA – Ahead of a new school year, PennDOT and AAA highlighted motorist, pedestrian, and school bus safety as students return to the classroom.
The partners gathered at Wyland Elementary School to remind motorists and pedestrians to practice safe behaviors as students prepare to start the school year. The safety officials also focused on school bus safety and how parents can educate their children on how to safely exit a school bus during an emergency.
In all school zones, motorists are reminded to put the phone down and eliminate all distractions. When driving near schools, be sure to slow down and always come to a complete stop at crosswalks and intersections. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 20 mph is about two-thirds less likely to be killed than one struck by a vehicle going 30 mph.
In addition to slowing down and avoiding distractions, the partners recommend following advice for motorists:
- Brake for buses and abide by PA’s School Bus Stopping Law.
- Watch out for bicyclists and abide by PA’s Four Foot Passing Law.
- Plan ahead by leaving early and modifying routes to avoid school zones unless necessary.
The partners also share additional tips for pedestrians:
- Make eye contact with the driver before crossing in front of their vehicle to increase visibility.
- Stay in well-lit areas when crossing the street and walking on sidewalks.
- Avoid distractions like a phone, and don’t wear headphones so you can be sure to hear traffic around you when near the road.
- Always use crosswalks and use crossing guards when possible.
Finally, PennDOT reminds parents to prepare their child for the commute to school by discussing the walking route to school or the bus stop, highlight safe areas to walk, and what to do if an emergency occurs on the school bus.
Tips, including following the instructions of the school bus driver, knowing where the emergency exits are, and how to safely exit the bus, can help a student feel more confident and prepared when riding on the school bus.
PennDOT’s media resources web page offers social media-sized graphics for numerous transportation-related campaigns, including safety topics such as aggressive driving, speeding, distracted driving, and seat belts for organizations, community groups, or others who share safety information with their stakeholders.
For regional updates, follow PennDOT on X and join the Greater Pittsburgh Area PennDOT Facebook group.
MEDIA CONTACT: Yasmeen Manyisha, ymanyisha@pa.gov
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