Back to School and Safely Driving

School is back in session and you are starting to get back into a routine.  It's important to keep a few safety tips in mind as you drive through town and in neighborhoods.

Obey traffic laws.  Recognize when a speed limit changes, or when you are in a school zone.

When in a school zone, watch for crossing guards, and children walking on side walks or crossing the road, especially not at the crosswalk.  It's a safe bet that not all of the kids will stay on the side walk.

Remember to stop when you see a stopped school bus with flashing lights.  The law states you need to stop if you are behind the bus, or if you are oncoming traffic.  Also, be sure to watch behind the bus, because sometimes children cross the road behind instead of in front of the bus as they are supposed to.

Be alert when passing parks or playgrounds or even groups of children playing.  You never know when a ball or toy will be thrown in the road, and a child will come running out after it, oblivious to any traffic in the road.

Always walk around your car before you back up, especially when pulling out of a driveway.  It's better to take just a few minutes to make sure your path is clear, and be a few minutes late.

Finally, be wise when you drive, and avoid distracted driving, such as texting, talking on the phone, fixing your make-up/shaving, or eating.  Keep your eyes on the road.

Back to School-Carpools

It's that time of year when the stores are filled with notebooks, backpacks, and new pencils.  You are probably already starting (or have started) the preparation to send kids back to school.  It may be just another school year, or you might be sending you first child to college, or as in my case, your last to kindergarten.

Depending on where your kids attend school, you may be driving carpools again this year.  Do you get stressed out with carpools?  It seems that everyone wants to be in the exact same parking spot at the exact same time, and right as the bell rings and chaos ensues!  Here are just a couple of tips to make your carpooling a bit easier this year!

• Keep your car maintained.  We all know someone who has been late to pick kids up, or been stuck in the parking lot due to a broken down car.  Be sure that major repairs are done ahead of time, so that they can be planned for.  Otherwise we all know Murphy's law just happens to take control in the moment that is least convenient, and that might be when you have a row of honking cars behind you trying to get past to pick up their kids!
• Safety first. Carpools are always a time saver for everyone involved.  You take turns with your neighbor down the street, and with the people who live behind you, so that in reality you won't have to stop everything you are doing to go pick up/drop off kids twice a day.  However, be sure you have enough seat belts for everyone in the car.  In most cases, you are just driving a few blocks, but in one survey 52% of people reported accidents happening within 5 miles of their home.  Be safe, buckle up you and each one of the passengers in your car.
• Have a plan.  Like we stated before, carpools should be a time saver.  Have a designated spot for the kids to meet, and for you to pick them up at.  Be aware of which kids will take a little longer, and which ones will be the first ones out.  Know which kids aren't at school that day, or won't need a ride home.  
• Drop-offs.  Be sure to watch each child go into their homes.  Know if a parent is home, or if you need to send a quick message to a parent that isn't home to assure them their child made it home safely.  

The start of school is usually such an exciting time for the whole family.  It seems to be a rite of passage of sorts.  Enjoy the time you get to spend with all of those young people, sometimes for just a few minutes of car ride each day.

Back to School-College Bound

So, your high school graduate is about to head off to college, huh?  There might be some excitement, and nervousness.  It's probably their first time to live on their own. You might be wondering if you have prepared them enough for this. Your new college student will probably head out, naively thinking they can conquer the world, and really what could go wrong?  You and I probably had those some ideals, and look, we turned out just fine, so will they.

Besides preparing them for harder classes, balancing their time, and living on their own, you should also gently remind them how to take care of that car, that will provide some freedom to get away from classes and campus from time to time.  Here are some gentle reminders for your college student to keep in mind, to ensure their safety while driving away from home.

• Check fluids, oil, windshield washer fluid, etc. Some fluids, like oil, need to be changed regularly, and can easily be forgotten if a schedule isn't set.  Other fluids, like windshield washer fluid can simply run out, and not noticed until it's needed most.  If your child isn't sure how to check fluids, always recommend that they take the vehicle in to a credible repair shop regularly to have it checked.
• Keep gas in the tank.  Don't wait until the "empty" light comes on.  It's a good rule of thumb to always put gas in a vehicle when it's half full.
• Learn how to drive in different seasonal conditions. Your child might be attending school in a climate different from what he/she is used to.  Can you picture a California kid attending school here in the Rocky Mountains and driving in snow for the first time?  Even if your child is comfortable in driving in the snow, do they know how to drive in the rain or fog?
• Remind your son/daughter if they are drinking, to never drink and drive.  Call a friend or a cab to come pick them up.  Always remember safety first.
• Follow the laws.  College towns usually have a ton of pedestrians.  Help educate them to speed limits, parking, and pedestrian laws.
• Road Side Assistant Programs.  It might be a good idea to enroll your child in a road side assistant program, such as AAA.  You may not be able to get to your child immediately in case of an emergency, and it will bring peace of mind, to know that your son/daughter won't be waiting on the side of the road until you can.

Exciting times are ahead for your children.  We hope they will have a safe an enjoyable college experience, and these tips will help them get off on the right start.