As a loving parent of a school-age child, keeping them safe is likely one of your highest priorities. It is therefore important to bear in mind some of the specific threats that can occur as the school gates are flung open for the start of a new school year, especially those threats on the journey to or from school.
Here are two to keep in mind:
1. Drivers forgetting they need to slow down
Schools usually have lower-than-normal speed limits on the roads outside. Some of these stay in place all year, and some only apply when the kids are in school. Regardless, many drivers may have gotten used to driving these streets faster than the limit over the summer. For example, some drivers may have used the road past the school gates as a rat run to get to work more quickly. If they fail to clock that school has restarted, an accident could easily occur when they encounter children crossing the road and cannot slow down in time.
2. Drivers being impatient due to the increase in traffic
Many kids take the school bus, but some parents still give their kids a lift to school and pick them up when it finishes. That can lead to a significant increase in traffic on certain streets. Drivers who have failed to plan for this may become frustrated and drive recklessly to try and make up time so they don’t arrive late at their destination.
If your child’s school year gets off to a bad start due to a driver’s negligence, it’s important to get help to understand how best to go about claiming compensation.