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ISP warns drivers to slow down in school zones, around buses

Now that school is back in session in most areas, the Idaho State Police with local law enforcement agencies want to warn motorists of the danger that may be just around the corner as thousands of Idaho school-age children are going to and from school.

ISP reminds motorists to take notice of speed limits in school zones and to slow down and watch for children. “Slow down. It's the most obvious way to see what's going on around you.”

Last year 97 of the 212 Idaho pedestrians involved in crashes (46 percent) were age 19 and younger. Based on traffic data collected by ITD, 26 percent of last year's injury and fatal pedestrian crashes involved children between the ages of 4 and 14.

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25 mph is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed as compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling just 10 mph faster.

School-age children face greater risks due to their inexperience on roadways and their risk-taking behavior. That's why it is so important for motorists and students to be on the lookout for each other, especially during the first few weeks of school.

Think before passing a school bus. Idaho Law says: "The driver of a vehicle meeting or overtaking from either direction any school bus stopped on the highway shall stop before reaching the school bus when there is in operation on a school bus the visual signals and the driver of a vehicle shall not proceed until the school bus resumes motion or the visual signals are no longer actuated. Oncoming traffic on a highway of more than three lanes is not required to stop upon meeting a school bus when visual signals are actuated."

The Idaho State Police partners with local law enforcement agencies to strictly enforce school zone speed limits and school bus passing violations.