Does Distracted Driving Increase During Back-to-School Season?
The return of bustling school zones brings more than just homework; it also creates hazardous driving conditions. As school buses reappear near St. Joseph’s Central High School and Wichita’s East High, our roads transform into high-risk corridors. The car accident attorneys at Patterson Legal Group have witnessed firsthand how preventable collisions surge each fall. But does back-to-school distracted driving truly escalate? Our experienced injury lawyers explain why it does, as well as how you can protect yourself and the students in our communities.
Increased Congestion and Traffic Lead to Accidents
School zones become pressure cookers of activity during September. For example, Truman Middle School in St. Joseph has streets designed for light traffic, but hosts significant buses, parent drop-offs, bicyclists, and children crossing. This confluence of factors creates dangerous situations, such as drivers rushing to beat bus lights or swerving around double-parked cars.
Missouri data reveals school-transportation crashes cause hundreds of annual injuries, often when drivers ignore stopped buses. Limited visibility and impatient maneuvers near schools, like St. Joseph’s Carden Park Elementary, can turn minor errors into tragedies.
New Routines and Traffic Patterns Lead to Distraction
Familiar routes can feel foreign at the beginning of the school season. Parents navigating altered traffic flows near Wichita’s Allison Traditional Magnet Middle School might miss detour signs while checking Android Auto. Other drivers brake abruptly, searching for new school entrances, increasing the chances of a rear-end collision.
These adjustments coincide with peak pedestrian hours, when many students return home between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. A momentary glance at a phone near St. Joseph’s Hillyard Technical Center could obscure a darting student.
Parents and Back-to-School Distracted Driving
Parental multitasking fuels back-to-school distracted driving risks. Reaching for forgotten lunchboxes or breaking up sibling arguments pulls focus from the act of driving. Near Wichita’s Brooks Arts Academy, hurried drop-offs tempt drivers to bypass designated zones, blocking sightlines. Extreme August heat in Kansas compounds fatigue, slowing reaction times.
Our Kansas car accident lawyers recommend practicing routes before the first day of school and silencing phones. Remember, in addition to keeping you and your kids safe, you’ll also be serving as an example. Children observing parents that drive responsibly can absorb lifelong safety habits.
Teen Drivers and Back-to-School Distracted Driving
Inexperienced teens face extreme risks. Missouri crash data shows afternoon dismissal hours are deadliest for drivers under 21. New license holders juggle phones, friends, and unfamiliar responsibilities, like transporting siblings. Our experienced personal injury lawyers recommend having a serious conversation with the young drivers in your household about the importance of strong safety habits and the dangers of distracted driving. Teach your children the importance of:
- Scanning road conditions continuously and watching for obscured children
- Reviewing school maps for safe drop-off points
- Knowing how to drive around school buses
- Leaving earlier to avoid rushed decisions, triggering back-to -chool distracted driving
Patterson Legal Group urges treating school commutes like precision tasks. One lapse near a Wichita crosswalk or St. Joseph bus stop can result in catastrophic injuries or wrongful death, altering lives forever.
Contact a Distracted Driving Car Wreck Attorney Near Me
The personal injury attorneys at Patterson Legal Group hope that this blog has helped you better understand back-to-school distracted driving. Please share this info with your friends and family to help keep all our communities safe. Unfortunately, some school accidents happen through no fault of your own. If you or a member of your family have suffered an injury caused by another party, then contact Patterson Legal Group immediately.
Patterson Legal Group is available 24/7 by phone at (888) 687-2400 and online through LiveChat or secure contact form. Our Midwest injury lawyers have helped injury victims throughout Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Colorado receive more than $250 million in settlements. You can trust Patterson Legal Group to deliver the settlement and service that you deserve.
