School Is Starting—Be Careful on the Road!

It’s hard to believe, considering it seems like summer just started not too long ago, but kids across the country are already gearing up to return to school in the coming weeks—and with the start of a new school year comes an influx of vehicles on the roads in the mornings and mid-afternoons, many of which are driven by younger drivers who are still learning what it’s like to be behind the wheel. With this in mind, it can be helpful to take a minute to get reacquainted with some of the road hazards posed by the start of the new school year. Here are some tips the drivers with our trucking company in Minnesota like to keep in mind:

• Know where school zones are located: Particularly if you drive along a similar route on a daily basis, you likely already know whether you pass through any school zones during your commute or while running errands. The roads near schools are likely to be a little more congested than usual during drop-off and pickup times, so you can either alter your route to avoid school traffic or plan accordingly for slightly longer and slower travels.
• Watch your speed: Most school zones have drastically reduced speed limits to account for the presence of additional traffic coming and going, as well as to force drivers to watch for students on foot and riding bicycles. While the temptation to continue driving at a more standard speed through a school zone can be great, it’s not worth getting a ticket—or worse, being involved in an accident—just because you didn’t slow down.
• Be careful around school buses: Perhaps the surest sign that school is back in session is the increased presence of hulking orange school buses on the roads. Remember that passing a stopped school bus is against the law, and be sure to leave ample space between your vehicle and a stopped school bus to allow children to board or disembark. Wait for the bus to begin moving again before resuming your journey.
• Avoid distractions: Distracted driving has become increasingly problematic as more and more drivers attempt to make phone calls, send text messages and mess with dashboard features in their vehicles while behind the wheel. Simply put, you should not allow yourself to get into the habit of succumbing to these distractions while driving, and you should drive very cautiously in school zones—after all, younger drivers are not immune to this behavior, either!

At K-Way Express, Inc., we are committed to ensuring your shipment arrives safely at its destination, and keeping the changing conditions brought about by back-to-school season top of mind plays a big role in our success. The drivers with our trucking company in Minnesota are trained in safe driving practices and strive to always abide by the rules of the road. To learn more about our services and how we go about getting your shipment safely from point A to point B, get in touch with us today!