Back-to-School Safety Tips for Drivers

Quick Facts About Fall Safety

1. It's always a good idea to refresh your safety training at the end of summer. 
2. A high quality fall training covers speed limits, distracted driving, a refresher on school zones, and rules for school buses. 
3. Telematics can assist in planning the most efficient routes, which avoid school zones and give you enough time to avoid rushing.

As summer comes to an end and schools prepare to resume, the streets are becoming busier. The back-to-school season marks a significant shift for both families and businesses. With kids resuming their studies and their parents returning to the office, our roads are increasingly crowded. This calls for a proactive approach to safety.

Let's get straight to the point – we're handing you five practical driving tips that will make this back-to-school transition safer for your vehicle and protect the well-being of your community. 

1. Refresh Safety Training 

First and foremost, the most effective way to prevent accidents is to keep safety guidelines at the forefront of mind. The truth is, the longer a driver has their license without consistent retraining, the more likely they are to develop bad driving habits. The best safety programs include both online and in-car training, each with its own advantages and unique benefits.

• Online training is cost-effective and convenient, allowing employees to access information anywhere and anytime.
• In-car training allows a professional trainer to evaluate the driver's habits and provide immediate feedback.

Ensure that the fall training covers speed limits, distracted driving, a review of school zones, and rules for school buses.

2. Plan extra time to get to your destinations

With traffic congestion increasing during peak hours in the fall, it will likely take more time to get to the destination. Telematics technology has come a long way and can help drivers plan the most efficient routes, avoiding school zones and traffic. If your vehicle doesn’t have telematics features installed, applications like Waze can substantially improve route planning and increase driving efficiency.

3. Slow down

Speeding is a major cause of accidents and tickets. By following the previous tip—planning extra time—you won’t feel the pressure to push past safe speed limits to arrive on time. Prioritize safe driving over punctuality! Communicate your status with the client (via hands free device or pulling over to use your cellphone) if you do end up running late.

4. Avoid distractions

No matter how experienced you are, the safe handling of a vehicle requires focus and attention. Distractions should be avoided at all costs, especially with more students on the road. Your company should provide you with clear and easy-to-remember guidelines for cell phone use, including how and when to respond to text messages and take calls. These guidelines also detail how to deal with distractions like in-car technologies, radios and music systems, as well as the importance of being fully aware and focused in construction areas. Follow it! If your company doesn’t offer you this information, request it and share this article with your fleet manager.

5. Pay close attention in school zones and crosswalks

During the summer, some drivers may feel inclined to ignore school zones, since school is not technically in session. Pay close attention in school zones and crosswalks as the fall season approaches. When approaching a crosswalk the rule of thumb is to slow down, be patient and never overtake another vehicle in an intersection or crosswalk. This will ensure everyone remains safe. 

6. Keep your eyes peeled for school buses 

Remember the signals school buses use to communicate when children are crossing. If the bus is displaying flashing lights or an extended arm, traffic in BOTH directions must stop. Since school buses make a lot of stops, keep your distance and don’t follow too closely. This will ensure everyone remains safe on the roads during this back-to-school season. 

Final thought — an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

At Foss National Leasing, our comprehensive corporate driver training programs include both online training through eDriving, and professional and fully qualified in-car training. 

Our partnership with eDriving gives our customers access to the Mentor smartphone app which gathers and reports on driver data including speed, acceleration and deceleration as well as distracted driving metrics including how often the driver touches their phone. This data is indispensable when it comes to customizing training programs for individual drivers.