As September nears and summer ends, Germantown streets grow busier with the start of the school year. With more traffic around schools, the community must focus on safety to protect students returning to their classrooms.
According to a recent announcement by the City of Germantown, they will be heightening their vigilance to safeguard the flow of young pedestrians and the general motoring public, particularly during the peak morning and afternoon periods when school zones are most congested and in desperate need for disciplined navigation by both new and experienced drivers alike.
The GPD has issued several key guidelines to ensure everyone's safety: foremost is the requirement for drivers to stop for school buses that are loading or unloading children, indicated by an extended stop sign arm and flashing lights. "It’s the law," warns the GPD advisory. This rule is universally applicable unless a median or physical barrier provides a division between your vehicle and the bus in question.
Furthermore, the speed limit in marked school zones is typically set at 15 mph, and adherence to this restriction is non-negotiable for drivers—school zones may utilize flashing yellow lights to signal activity or display specific operating hours on posted signage, but in all cases, the reduced speed limits must be obeyed for the safety of all students and motorists alike, distractions can be perilously costly, thus the GPD encourages the use of hands-free technology, in line with Tennessee’s Hands-Free Law (T.C.A. § 55-8-199), which prohibits holding a cellphone or mobile device with any part of the body while driving.
The City of Germantown also underscores the importance of respecting crossing guards, who are legally authorized to direct traffic and demand compliance from motorists even outside of designated crosswalks. Parking protocol further dictates that motorists should not park in no-parking zones near schools, and should factor in additional time for travel due to increased traffic to avoid unnecessary haste that could lead to accidents or infractions.
