‘Tis the Season to Slow Down for School Children

Student Safety Is in Your Hands

ALBANY, Ga. – As students across south Georgia begin a new school year, child safety is back in focus. The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) urges drivers to practice back to school safety when driving particularly when approaching or following school buses.

Drivers are required to stop when approaching or meeting a stopped school bus that has its lights flashing and is loading or unloading passengers. The exception to this rule is when highways are separated in the center by median strips. In this situation, only vehicles following or traveling alongside a school bus in the same direction must stop. A warning will be given in advance by the flashing red or amber lights on the front and rear of the bus. After stopping, drivers must remain stopped until the bus resumes motion or deactivates its warning signals and all loading or unloading passengers have cleared the roadway.

“Georgia roadways are increasingly crowded during back-to-school season, and the safety of children traveling to and from school must be a top priority,” said Garrett Townsend, Georgia Public Affairs Director, AAA-The Auto Club Group. “Drivers should always be on high alert, particularly in areas where children are present.”

AAA offers essential traffic safety tips for keeping kids safe:

• Slow down and obey all posted school zone speed limits
• Eliminate distractions and keep phones out of reach
• Watch carefully for crossing guards and follow their directions
• Be prepared to stop suddenly near schools and playgrounds
• Allow extra travel time to avoid rushing through school areas

Bus Stop Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility

• Stop when a school bus displays flashing red lights and an extended stop arm
• Remain stopped until the lights stopped flashing and children safely cleared the area
• Watch for students crossing in front of the bus
• Slow down near bus stops, even when buses are not present

DDS Commissioner Angelique B. McClendon reminds us “As students return to school, we want every driver to slow down and stay alert around school buses, especially in neighborhoods and school zones. Please obey school signs, lights, and signals, but also watch carefully for children walking, crossing the street, or waiting for the bus. Their safety is our shared responsibility, and we want every child to get to and from school safely.”

In partnership with the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, local law enforcement, traffic safety advocates, and school districts, AAA-The Auto Club Group has kicked off its annual School’s Open Drive Carefully campaign. Slow down, stay alert, and watch for children in school zones and neighborhoods. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 64% of child pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in 2024 were struck on weekdays, with the greatest risk occurring during the afternoon hours after school. AAA is urging drivers to slow down, stay alert, and help prevent child pedestrian injuries and fatalities before they happen.