What should you do when you are near a school?

• A. Drive slowly and stop for children in the crosswalk.
• B. Drive normally.
• C. Speed up to clear the area.
• D. Turn around and avoid the area.

Answer: (A)

In a school zone, you must slow down and be prepared to stop for children in crosswalks. Children can move unpredictably and may dart into the street from between parked cars or from the side of the road, so reducing speed gives you the time needed to react and prevents crashes. Following the posted school-zone speed limit and watching for crossing guards, buses, and flashing signals is essential, since these areas are designed specifically to protect kids during certain hours.

Driving normally, speeding up to clear the area, or turning away from the area would increase the risk to pedestrians and may violate traffic laws or posted limits. The safest approach is to maintain a reduced speed and stop when children are crossing.