It’s the first week of school for students in Greenville and Spartanburg Counties, and even if you don’t have kids, school traffic might impact your daily driving routine.
Here are some important reminders from the Greer Police Department to keep everyone safe:
Safety Tips for Drivers
· Give yourself a little extra time to get to your destination if you’re traveling during school drop-off or pick-up times.
· Pay attention to signage around school zones to see what times those areas are active with students, parents, and school buses.
· Watch for crossing guards and obey their cues to keep kids safe.
· Do not take unnecessary risks to attempt to pass traffic lines.
When to Stop for a School Bus
· You must stop for the entire time a school bus is stopped or preparing to stop with its red or amber lights flashing or its stop arm extended.
· On a two-lane highway, traffic should stop in both directions.
· On a four-lane or multi-lane highway, drivers traveling behind a school bus should stop when the school bus stops.
· When stopped for a school bus, do not proceed until the bus moves or the red lights are no longer flashing.
· You do not have to stop for a school bus if you’re traveling in the opposite direction on a road that has at least four lanes or if the bus is in a passenger loading zone completely off the main travel lanes when pedestrians are not allowed to cross the roadway.
Student Walking and Biking Safety Trips
· Always use crosswalks and look both ways before crossing.
· Don’t walk while using your phone or headphones.
· Walk in groups and stick to sidewalks when possible.
· Always wear a helmet when biking and use hand signals.