Back to school will be here in just a few short weeks, which means you're probably already prepping to get back into the swing of things. Your time on the road is about to increase pretty dramatically, and unfortunately, so is the traffic. The combination of these two elements means your chances of getting into a car accident are higher, so our N Charlotte Toyota dealership is here to help you identify five potential back-to-school road hazards to avoid getting into a collision.
Hazard #1: School zones
Driving in school zones requires your close attention to what's going on around your N Charlotte Toyota. The speed limits are often drastically reduced in these zones because there are so many pedestrians, so be prepared to slow down. You'll also need to be ready to come to a stop at a moment's notice to let students cross with a crossing guard.
Hazard #2: School buses
School buses are bound to be out and about on the roads during back to school and you need to brush up on how to drive around them. Remember, when the school bus' lights start to flash and the stop signs swing out, you also need to stop your N Charlotte Toyota, even if you're moving in the opposite direction. Also, never pass a stopped bus - students are likely loading and unloading.
Hazard #3: Pedestrians
There are going to be a lot more pedestrians out and about even if you're not in a school zone. Kids walk to school, walk to their bus stops, walk to friends' houses... all in all, you need to be hyper-vigilant of your surroundings. Remember, kids don't always know to cross the street at crosswalks - they may cross anywhere, so you need to be ready to stop. You should also look both ways before crossing through stop signs and stoplights.
Hazard #4: Bicyclists
There are also a lot more bicyclists out on the road when back to school kicks off. Lots of kids ride bicycles to school, so you should be extra aware of your surroundings. Be sure to yield to cyclists, give them plenty of space when you're passing them, and also make sure to double-check before you change lanes or make a right turn.
Hazard #5: Traffic
There's just more traffic in general when back to school hits, so be ready for it. It's always a good idea to give yourself a little bit more time to get where you need to go in case of delays and check your route before you leave your house in the morning to see if there's any traffic backing it up so you know to take an alternate.
Have back to school questions? Call Toyota of N Charlotte for answers. We're open seven days a week and our N Charlotte Toyota dealership has tons of safe new Toyotas for your daily grind.
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