As Atlanta gears up for another school year, the morning and afternoon commutes are about to get noticeably more hectic. School buses will be back on the roads, parents will be rushing through drop-off lines, and kids will be walking and biking through residential neighborhoods in greater numbers. And every year, like clockwork, back-to-school traffic contributes to a spike in accidents across metro Atlanta, many of which are entirely preventable.
As Atlanta car accident lawyers, we’ve seen how quickly a distracted moment in a school zone can turn into a life-altering event. With that in mind, here are some practical, timely reminders to help drivers and families stay safe during the busy back-to-school season.
Traffic near schools and residential areas slows to a crawl during pick-up and drop-off windows, so the trick is planning. Leave extra time in your schedule so you’re not tempted to speed or multitask behind the wheel. GPS apps can also help you reroute around school zones when possible.
Back-to-School Safety Tips for Drivers and Families
Keeping children safe during the school commute takes a group effort, with drivers, parents, and students all playing a part. Our Atlanta car accident lawyers have compiled the following safety tips to help you responsibly tackle Atlanta’s back-to-school traffic.
1. Stay alert in Atlanta school zones
School zones in Georgia are clearly marked and commonly equipped with flashing lights during active hours. These are NOT suggestions: they’re legally enforced limits. Speeding through school zones not only increases the risk of injury but can also lead to steep fines and points on your license. Pay attention and be aware of your surroundings.
2. Prepare for increased traffic during school hours
Set your alarm 15 to 20 minutes earlier than usual for the first few weeks of school. The roads will be more congested, and tempers can flare when people are running late. Give yourself a buffer to avoid the kind of aggressive driving that puts others at risk.
3. Watch for children, pedestrians, and cyclists
Many children walk to school or ride bikes, especially in urban neighborhoods like Grant Park, Decatur, or East Atlanta. Be especially cautious near crosswalks and residential intersections. Kids often forget to look both ways or may dart out unexpectedly; don’t assume they see you coming.
4. Obey Georgia’s school bus safety laws
When a school bus driver stops and extends their stop sign, all traffic must come to a complete stop, unless you’re on a divided highway with a median. Failing to stop is extremely dangerous, but can also result in license suspension and significant penalties. Red and amber lights are your early warning to slow down and prepare to stop.
ALWAYS give extra space to school buses when loading or unloading children.
5. Reduce driving distractions
Checking a text, adjusting your navigation, or reaching into the back seat takes your eyes off the road for just long enough to miss a child in a crosswalk. If you’re transporting kids, consider setting rules about car behavior before you hit the road: no loud arguments, no unbuckling, and no reaching for dropped items while driving.
6. Stay calm and patient
Back-to-school traffic can test anyone’s patience, especially in school parking lots. Parents cut in line, buses block your view, and crosswalk guards move at their own pace. However, remember that those brief delays are all in service of one goal: keeping children safe. Take a deep breath and stay calm.
7. Use extra caution in school parking lots and drop-off zones
Drop-off areas are some of the most chaotic places you’ll drive all year. Stick to designated lanes, avoid double-parking, and never block pedestrian paths. If your child walks alone from the lot, make sure they only cross the street at marked crosswalks and are aware of their surroundings.
8. Teach safe driving habits to teen drivers
If your teen is driving to school this year, go beyond the basics. Talk with them about the importance of slowing down to an appropriate school zone speed, avoiding phone use, and never rushing through yellow lights. Consider practicing their route together before the first day to help reduce first-week nerves and distractions.
9. Know Atlanta’s high-risk traffic areas
Certain parts of Atlanta see higher accident rates during the school year, especially near major intersections and school clusters. Be extra mindful in areas like Buckhead, Midtown, and West End, where schools sit close to busy corridors. Intown areas with aging infrastructure and narrow roads, like West Midtown, Moreland Avenue, and Ponce de Leon, have hills and narrow roads. And areas all around town, including Chamblee and East Atlanta, have experienced an influx of mixed-use developments, which bring with them both apartments and restaurants, further increasing traffic over what those areas were originally designed for. Knowing where the traffic hot spots are can help you plan a safer commute.
10. Respect law enforcement and traffic officers
Crossing guards and traffic officers are out there doing a tough job: keeping everyone safe in high-risk environments. Follow their instructions, even if it slows you down. Failing to yield or follow a direction could result in a citation or worse.
Safety Starts Before the Bell
Back-to-school season in Atlanta is a high-risk time on the road, but a few seconds of added caution can mean the difference between a normal school day and a life-changing tragedy. But if the worst happens and you or your child were injured in a traffic-related incident this school year, speak with an experienced Atlanta car accident lawyer to explore your options.
Photo Credit:
Photo 1, Credit to Freepik || Photo 2, Credit to Freepik (CC0 1.0)
