Back-to-school traffic is back too. These school drop-off safety tips will help you handle carpool lanes safely, avoid fender-benders, and follow Tennessee school zone rules so kids get to class without close calls.
Why School Drop-Off Safety Tips Matter
Morning car lines mix cars, kids on foot, buses, and bikes in a tight space. A few smart habits prevent low-speed crashes and near misses. The goal is simple: drop off quickly, predictably, and safely.
School Drop-Off Safety Tips for Drivers
Follow posted signs and staff directions
School zones, cones, and staff are there to keep everyone moving in one direction. If a staff member waves you forward, keep rolling until it is your turn to unload.
Keep the lane moving
- Use the designated drop-off lane only. Do not park or get out to walk your child in.
- Have backpacks zipped and goodbyes done before you reach the curb.
- Stop parallel to the curb so kids can step straight out.
Use the curbside door only
Children should exit on the passenger side next to the curb. No crossing in front of other cars.
Eyes up, phone down
Put your device away as you enter the zone, and always – Tennessee’s Hands Free Law (Public Chapter 412). Watch for kids stepping between cars and for crossing guards.
Mind your speed and space
- Roll in slowly and leave a full car length when you stop.
- Avoid sudden lane changes and U-turns near the school entrance.
- Do not pass other cars in the drop-off lane.
School Drop-Off Safety Tips for Parents and Kids
Seatbelts stay on until you reach the curb
Unbuckle only when the car is fully stopped at the drop point.
Backpacks ready
Keep bags in laps, not the trunk, so kids exit quickly on the curbside.
Use crosswalks
If you must park and walk, use marked crosswalks and follow the crossing guard. Teach kids to make eye contact with drivers before stepping out.
No between-car shortcuts
Small children are hard to see. Walk the long way around the front of your own vehicle if needed, never between bumpers.
School Drop-Off Safety Tips in Tennessee: Reading the Signs
Know when the school-zone limit applies
Slow to the posted school-zone speed whenever flashers are active or the posted time window is in effect. Stay at that speed until you pass the END SCHOOL ZONE sign. Tennessee Traffic Operations Memorandum No. 1801
Yield to pedestrians and crossing guards
Stop for people in crosswalks and remain stopped until they finish crossing your lane. Obey the guard’s hand signals and stop sign. Tennessee Pedestrian Laws
Give school buses extra room
Expect frequent stops and wide turns. If red lights are flashing and the stop arm is out, do not pass. For a refresher on bus rules, see our post:
Buses Are Back: Sharing the Road with School Buses Safely.
Avoiding Parking Lot Fender-Benders
- Signal early when turning into the campus or a parking space.
- Check blind spots twice before pulling away from the curb.
- Go slow in the lot and cover the brake. Kids can dart out between cars.
- Reverse with caution. If possible, park so you can pull forward to leave.
- Skip the squeeze. If a space looks tight, keep looking.
Rainy Days and Bad Weather
- Leave early to avoid rushing.
- Use headlights for visibility around the school.
- Expect longer lines. Patience beats a bumper tap in a crowded lane.
Related Reading in This Series
- School Zone Safety 101: Navigating Slow-Down Areas as Classes Resume
- Buses Are Back: Sharing the Road with School Buses Safely
If you or your child was injured in a school-zone or carpool-lane crash, Stillman & Friedland is here to help. Call 615-244-2111 or reach out through our online contact form.
Because we care,
Stillman & Friedland
