Why Drivers Must Slow Down and Put the Phone Down in School Zones
Protecting Kids, Preventing Crashes, and Understanding Legal Liability in North Carolina
School buses are rolling. Crossing guards are back on the sidewalks. And parents are bracing for those stressful morning drop-offs. But here’s the truth: back-to-school traffic isn’t just inconvenient, it’s dangerous.
It’s Back-to-School Season, and the Roads Just Got Busier
One distracted moment near a school zone can lead to lifelong consequences, especially for young children walking to class or getting off the bus. At Shankle Law Firm, we’re not just legal advocates, we’re part of this community. And we want every driver in Charlotte to take this season seriously.
Why School Zone Crashes Spike in August and September
- More children on foot or riding bikes, many with little road awareness
- Congestion at drop-off and pick-up zones, creating confusion and risky maneuvers
- Teen drivers hitting the road again, often during peak school commute hours
- Distracted adults, rushing through zones, checking phones, or ignoring signage
CMS is one of North Carolina’s largest school districts. That means high traffic volume and high stakes.
North Carolina School Zone Traffic Laws: What Drivers Must Know
- Speed limit drops to 25 mph (or lower) in marked school zones during posted hours
- Fines double for speeding or breaking rules in these zones
- Passing a stopped school bus with its arm extended is a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the situation
- Drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks
- Using a phone while driving, even just checking a message, is distraction that could cost a life
The Real-World Consequences of School Zone Accidents
Children are vulnerable for one reason: they’re unpredictable. They dart out. They get distracted. And they’re harder to see.
Even a slow-speed impact can result in:
- Long-term brain, spinal, or orthopedic injuries
- Emotional trauma for the child and their family
- Lifelong changes to mobility, learning, and quality of life
When drivers cause harm in a school zone, they face serious civil liability, and in some cases, criminal charges.
What If a Crossing Guard or School Staff Member Gets Hurt in a School Zone?
Safety isn’t just about students. Crossing guards, school staff, and parent volunteers are often in the most dangerous positions, standing in the road, directing traffic, or assisting children at crosswalks.
If one of these individuals is injured:
- School employees may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits
- Volunteers or contractors may have the right to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver
- Liability increases significantly if the driver was speeding, distracted, or ignored signage
At Shankle Law Firm, we stand up for everyone who works to keep kids safe, including those often overlooked. If you or someone you know was injured while helping at a school, you don’t have to navigate the legal system alone.
Liability in a School Zone Accident: Who’s Legally at Fault?
In North Carolina, drivers carry a heightened duty of care when operating a vehicle near schools, and for good reason. Children are small, fast, and often unpredictable. That means the law expects motorists to act with extreme caution in school zones.
A driver may be legally responsible (liable) for a school zone crash if they were:
- Speeding, even slightly above the reduced school zone limit
- Using a phone or other device, even momentarily
- Failing to stop for a crossing guard or school bus
- Rolling through stop signs or not yielding at crosswalks
- Driving too aggressively in a high-traffic, child-heavy area
Because children may dart into the street without warning, the law does not expect them to behave like adults. Instead, drivers are expected to anticipate this unpredictability, and courts often side with injured pedestrians when a crash occurs in or near a school zone.
If the victim is a school staff member or volunteer, liability may also involve compensation for lost wages, long-term injury, or workers' compensation benefits, depending on their employment status.
If a child or staff member is hurt, legal claims may seek compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation
- Emotional distress
- Long-term educational or support needs
Shankle Law Firm can help injured families and individuals identify all responsible parties, whether it’s a reckless driver, a poorly marked crosswalk, or a combination of factors.
What Drivers Should Do to Keep Kids Safe
Safety near schools isn’t just about obeying speed limits, it’s about changing how we drive in high-risk zones. Whether you’re a parent dropping off your own child or simply passing through on the way to work, every driver plays a role in prevention.
Here are practical steps every driver can take to protect children and others near schools:
- Slow down early. Don’t wait until you see flashing signs, begin reducing speed well before entering a school zone.
- Stay off your phone completely. Even hands-free devices can distract you long enough to miss a child stepping off the curb.
- Treat every crosswalk like someone is in it. Always approach marked crossings with the assumption that a child might enter at any moment.
- Watch for stopped school buses. Never pass a bus with flashing red lights or an extended stop arm, it’s illegal and extremely dangerous.
- Be mindful of parked cars. Kids often appear suddenly from between parked vehicles, especially near school entrances.
- Don’t block intersections or crosswalks during drop-off/pick-up. Even if traffic is tight, blocking key pedestrian zones creates dangerous blind spots.
- Expect the unexpected. A child chasing a ball, a student running late, or a distracted teen stepping into traffic, all common, all preventable with vigilance.
Being late isn’t worth a life. Defensive, deliberate driving during the school commute protects not only children, but you, your passengers, and your community.
What Parents and Pedestrians Can Do to Stay Safe
Safety is a shared responsibility. Here’s how parents and students can reduce risk:
- Teach kids to make eye contact with drivers before crossing
- Encourage walking in groups and avoiding phones near the road
- Use marked crosswalks only and follow crossing guard instructions
- Parents driving? Plan ahead. Leave early. Stay off your phone.
How Shankle Law Firm Supports Victims of School Zone Accidents
When a child, staff member, or pedestrian is injured in a school zone, the aftermath is devastating. Families may be facing surgeries, hospital bills, insurance disputes, and trauma.
Shankle Law Firm helps by:
- Handling communication with insurers
- Investigating fault and building a case for full compensation
- Representing families in court or settlement negotiations
- Bringing compassionate guidance through a stressful, emotional time
We also understand Charlotte’s local roads, intersections, and high-risk school zones, and how to present that in court if needed.
Every Child Deserves a Safe Walk to School
Let’s make Charlotte safer, one driver, one crosswalk, one school zone at a time.
If your family has been impacted by a school zone traffic accident, we’re ready to help. Whether it was a distracted driver, unsafe crosswalk, or school bus incident, you don’t have to navigate this alone.
Call us for a free consultation. We’ll listen, and take action.
*Please Note - The content on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Viewing this site, using information from it, or communicating with Shankle Law Firm, PA through this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. For legal advice tailored to your situation, please contact us directly at (704) 370-1212.