Thursday, September 4, 2025
Back to School Travel Safety Tips
September is here and that means students are back at school and it's critical that everyone keep safety in mind when traveling.
Drivers should never pass a school bus with its stop sign extended and red lights flashing. Not only is it dangerous, it’s against the law. In New Jersey, you must stop at least 25 feet from a school bus with flashing lights on a road with no dividers.
Slow down for safety, especially in school zones, which have lower speed limits. Be extra alert for children walking and biking to and from school.
When you're driving, keep your eyes on the road and off of your phone or other distractions. And stopping for people crossing will make the roads safer for everyone and help you avoid a ticket. Every intersection has a crosswalk, even if it is not marked. Always yield to people crossing before turning at a stop sign or a traffic light.
If a vehicle is stopped at a crosswalk, an intersection or near a school, do not pass it. It is probably stopped to allow people to cross the street. Going around the vehicle could create a dangerous situation.
New Jersey also enacted a Safe Passing Law, which went into effect in March 2022. It requires drivers to provide at least 4 feet when passing vulnerable road users, like children walking or biking to schoool.
There are some simple steps students can also take to help make them more visible to drivers:
-
Use crosswalks and crossing at intersections from corner to corner
-
Do not cross between parked vehicles, which can make it difficult for drivers to see people trying to cross
-
Wait for the green light or walk sign at signalized intersections
-
Always look both ways before stepping into the road
It’s also safer to walk on sidewalks. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic so that you can see approaching vehicles.
If you’re riding a bike to school, remember to ride in the same direction as traffic and wear a helmet.