Every September, New York City’s streets become noticeably busier as more than a million public school students return to class. Parents, yellow school buses, bicyclists and pedestrians converge on already congested roadways, creating unique challenges for traffic safety. While the excitement of a new school year is palpable, it is also a time when vigilance and responsible behavior are most critical. This is a time when drivers and other road users must be particularly vigilant, especially around school zones to help prevent tragic collisions, in particular, pedestrian accidents.
The Unique Challenges of NYC Streets
New York City is unlike most cities in the United States. Its dense population, reliance on mass transit and the sheer volume of pedestrians create an environment where traffic safety requires special attention. During school days, hundreds of school buses weave through busy avenues while children cross intersections that are often filled with impatient drivers and bicyclists competing for space. The return to school coincides with the end of summer vacations and an uptick in commuter traffic, amplifying congestion. The city’s Vision Zero initiative, aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities, underscores just how urgent the issue is. Statistics show that children are especially vulnerable and that pedestrian accident injuries among school-age children spike during morning and afternoon school hours.\
Back-to-School Safety Tips for Drivers
For drivers in particular, navigating school zones requires extra caution. Following a few key safety tips can make a big difference in keeping children, parents and fellow commuters safe.
Slow down. The speed limit in New York City is 25 mph unless otherwise posted, but in school zones it drops to 15 to 20 mph during school hours. Speed cameras are installed in many school zones and operate year-round, not just on school days. Slowing down isn’t just about avoiding a ticket, but it’s also about giving yourself time to react to traffic around you.
Obey crossing guards. Crossing guards are there to keep children safe during busy drop-off and pick-up times. Always follow their signals, even if it means waiting longer than you’d like. Ignoring a crossing guard is both illegal and dangerous.
Watch for school buses. New York law is clear: Never pass a stopped school bus with flashing red lights, whether you’re behind it or coming from the opposite direction. Children may be crossing the street to get on or off, and passing a stopped bus can result in steep fines, points on your license and serious injuries.
Avoid double parking and blocking crosswalks. It may be tempting to stop quickly near a school to drop off a child, but double parking or blocking crosswalks creates blind spots for other drivers and pedestrians. Use designated drop-off zones when available or park legally a short distance away and walk your child to the school entrance.
Stay alert and eliminate distractions. Put away your phone, turn down loud music and keep your eyes on the road. Even a momentary distraction can have serious consequences in a school zone.
Share the road with bicyclists and pedestrians. Many students walk or bike to school. The law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections, give cyclists adequate space and to not block bike lanes near schools.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, bicycle accident or pedestrian accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent (careless) driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
Pedestrian accident victims and their families should remember that they can seek compensation for injuries or losses in collisions even if the victim was not walking in a marked crosswalk and even if the driver involved in collision was not charged. Our law firm recovered the full one-million- dollar insurance policy for a girl who was not in the crosswalk when a motor vehicle hit her.
For over 53 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. We also recovered $1,500,000 for a lady who was hurt by a bus.
We also obtained $295,000 out of a $300,000 insurance policy in compensation for the victim of a bicycle dooring accident (where a car door opens into the path of a bicyclist). One of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases. Also, we got a $1,400,000 verdict in a motorcycle accident.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
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External link: https://www.nyc.gov/content/visionzero/pages/