If you’ve noticed the roads feel busier when school starts up again, you’re right. School buses, parents in a hurry, and more teen drivers all add to the traffic, whether you’re on the highway or a back road. With more cars on the road, accidents are more likely to occur.
At Mapfre Insurance, we care about keeping your family and everyone on the road safe. To help you get through this busy time of year, we’ve gathered some important back-to-school safety tips from the National Safety Council.
Watch for young pedestrians
Kids are especially at risk around schools, where most child pedestrian accidents happen. Here are a few ways you can help keep them safe:
- Never double park or block visibility near schools.
- Avoid parking across from the school, which forces children to cross busy streets.
- Do not pass a car waiting for pedestrians.
- Don’t block the crosswalk when you’re turning or stopped at a light. If people must walk around your car, it puts them at risk.
Always stop for school buses
Kids between 4 and 7 are especially at risk when they’re getting on or off the bus. Keep these tips in mind:
- Passing a school bus while it is picking up or dropping off children is illegal in all 50 states.
- Stay alert and patient. Getting kids to and from school safely is always more important than saving a couple of minutes.
Help teen drivers build good habits
Back-to-school season can be tough for new drivers. Teens between 16 and 19 are three times more likely to be in a fatal crash than older drivers, so a little extra guidance can really help.
- Leave a little earlier: Try heading out 10 minutes sooner so there’s no need to rush.
- Seat belts are a must: In 2025, 39% of high school students said they didn’t always buckle up as passengers. Not wearing a seat belt is still one of the main reasons for teen deaths.
- Promote calm driving: Teach teens to let aggressive drivers go by without engaging.
- Cut out distractions: Set clear phone rules, turn on Do Not Disturb, and remind your teen that texting, eating, and even hands-free calls can still take their attention off the road.
Walking to school? Teach these tips:
Walking to school can be fun and healthy, but it’s important to stay safe along the way.
- Keep phones tucked away. Never text or scroll when crossing the street.
- Use sidewalks and crosswalks only.
- Make eye contact with drivers before stepping into the road.
- Leave the headphones off and always stay alert.
Mapfre MotionSmartSM: Drive smart and save
If you live in Massachusetts, check out MotionSmart, Mapfre’s safe-driving program. It helps you build better driving habits and could even help you save on your premiums. MotionSmart looks at things like hard braking, acceleration, cornering, speeding, and phone use, then gives you a driving score and helpful feedback.
We hope these back-to-school safety tips help you handle the rush and keep your family protected. Make sure your auto insurance policy also fits your needs and budget. If you’re in Massachusetts, check that you have the correct coverage with Mapfre and get a fast, free quote to see how much you could save!
We hope these tips help you in the back-to-school rush. While safety is important, so is having the right coverage. Make sure your independent agent reviews your auto insurance policy. If you are not a Mapfre customer yet, you can get a fast, free quote for your car insurance today to get outstanding coverage at a great price.
