Maryland Injury Attorney Blog
School is back in session, as another summer goes by way too fast. Children who were seen riding their bikes, scooters, and playing in yards and parks are now back in their classrooms. However, that doesn’t mean the risks associated with traffic and young pedestrians have gone away. Rather, the times young people are walking and crossing our streets have shifted to before and after school – the same times busy commuters and other workers are driving to and from their jobs.
In fact, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore reports child pedestrian traffic accidents increase between 3 and 6 pm on weekdays – as afterschool activities and commuter traffic coincide. Children leaving school are walking home, waiting for rides from parents and friends, and getting on and off school buses, just as the evening commute commences for adults.
Add in cell phones and other distractions and we have an increased potential for serious pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic accidents. A few tips to keep in mind to keep our schoolkids safe this fall….
Be Mindful of Your Surroundings: Parents, explain to children that just because they’re crossing the street in a sidewalk, that doesn’t mean all cars can see them. Drivers are, unfortunately, distracted. Tell children to put their cellphones, earbuds, and games away and pay attention to their surroundings so they get home safely. These rules apply for kids getting on and off the school bus (where we’ve all seen excited children hop off the bus and run across the street without looking, in their eagerness to get home).
Watch Out for Children and Youth Pedestrians: Drivers, be aware that children are excited to be back to school and hanging out with their friends, and they may not be thinking about the traffic around them. Be mindful of Maryland school zone speed limits (generally, 30 mph, which may increase to 35 mph if a school crossing guard is present). Watch out for children excitedly walking home from school and getting on and off the school bus – where they may dart across the street without looking. Stay alert for groups of kids talking and laughing as they joke around and walk home together, unaware of traffic around them. And don’t drive distracted: Maryland bans handheld cellphone use and texting while driving.
Remember Maryland School Bus Related Traffic Laws: According to Zero Deaths Maryland, the 10-foot area on each side of a school bus is considered a danger zone for children. A school bus will flash its yellow lights when it’s getting ready to stop. Once the school bus extends its stop sign with its red lights flashing, Maryland drivers are required by law to stop within 20 feet of the bus – including those coming from the opposite direction on undivided roadways.
Fall signals a time for all of us to ramp back up and get back to school and work. Vacations are over and we all need to settle back into our routines, often shaped by the academic year. Just a reminder for Maryland drivers to watch out for our young pedestrians, and expect kids to be kids. The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) estimates 8,747 pedestrians died in traffic or non-traffic incidents (in driveways, parking lots, and other private property) in 2024 in the U.S.
Here, Zero Deaths Maryland reports that 135 people died in pedestrian / motor vehicle related accidents in 2021: “In 2021, these crashes accounted for less than 3% of total crashes but nearly 23% of statewide fatalities. From 2017 to 2021, one out of every four people killed in Maryland in a traffic crash was a pedestrian.” Let’s all do our part to keep our Maryland school kids safe.
Related Maryland Pedestrian Accidents blog post:
Maryland School Bus and Other Traffic Safety Laws
Aug. 25, 2025
Sources:
Maryland drivers urged to slow down as back-to-school traffic returns
CBS News Baltimore Aug. 22, 2026
When do injuries happen?
John Hopkins Children’s Center, March 30, 2026
Zero Deaths Maryland : Pedestrian Crash Statistics
Collected online Aug. 26, 2026