Traffic Deaths Near Peak in September

School children, wet leaves and deer pose driving challenges this time of year, safety group says

September 12, 2009 RSS Feed Print

SATURDAY, Sept. 12 (HealthDay News) -- The back-to-school season brings plenty of road hazards and challenges: wet leaves, lumbering school buses and deer bounding across the lanes.

Last year, September had the second-highest number of deaths per mile driven of any month in the U.S. -- 1.42 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles, according to the National Safety Council (NSC).

To avoid accidents, NSC urges drivers to buckle up and avoid texting and using cell phones while driving. Also, it asks parents to review the following traffic safety tips with your children:

Stay back from traffic and avoid horsing around.
Line up away from the street as the school bus approaches. Wait until the bus stops and opens its doors before stepping onto the roadway.
When on the bus, sit down and greet friends quietly.
Never put your head, arms or hands out of the window.
Wait for a signal from the driver before beginning to cross the road. Even then, keep an eye out for sudden traffic changes.

Drivers should remember that fall is deer breeding season, so be on the lookout and keep in mind that deer travel in groups. When you see one deer, be alert for more.

Remember that deer are in suburban and urban locales as well as rural settings.

If you hit a deer, call 911.

More information

The National Safety Council has a complete list of fall traffic safety tips.