RSIG NEWS – Back-to-School Risk Management

With many areas heading back to school, now is a great time to bring all your staff and drivers together and remind them about the importance of practicing safe driving techniques; not just at back to school time, but every day, year-round.

Back to school time brings up additional challenges to safe driving and is a good time to reinforce your company’s policies and commitments to safe driving and reducing risk.

Remember back to school is not just about school bus stops and school buses… there are

younger, less experienced drivers on the roads,
more parents and caregivers changing their routines and paths,
more daycare vans and buses doing school drop off and pickup,
more after school practices and events and evening football games which changes the neighborhood dynamics and traffic.

All of this increases your potential liabilities.

Do take the time to review your state’s regulations regarding passing stopped school buses and go over those regulations with your employees so they do not receive MVR violations for passing stopped buses or worse causing an accident where a child or parent is struck while getting off the bus and crossing streets. Remind your employees about paying attention to reduced speed limits in school zones – these violations can also impact your drivers MVRs and insurability.

If your best repossessors are also not your best drivers, they won’t get the opportunity to produce for you if they are excluded drivers and have to be assigned to other duties.

Also don’t forget to speak about driver fatigue…. Drivers who may be working late may be more tired. Dozing off (or swerving to miss the phantom deer that come out this time of year – in addition to the real ones) and running up on a curb that could be a bus stop with kids waiting to be picked up, or rear-ending a bus, daycare van, or any private passenger vehicle because your driver’s reaction times were slower can lead to big lawsuits and bodily injury claims.

Remind your employees who are also parents or caregivers that they should NEVER use their company vehicle to transport their own children to and from school. This is perfect time to remind your employees about the importance of not having non employee riders in company vehicles. And if you have cameras in your vehicles – make sure to check those driver facing cameras to see if your drivers have other people in company insured vehicles. If they do – be sure to follow your company policy and discipline accordingly; and if you don’t have a policy – you should.

Please be sure to share this important information with your staff and drivers!

RSIG (Recovery Specialist Insurance Group) and Lighthouse Insurance Services LLC specialize in coverages for today’s professional repossession companies. RSIG’s volume based pricing gives you flexibility when assignment flow changes. Our policies include coverages for Acts of God, including flood. We pride ourselves on over 30 years of stable carrier relationships and timely renewals. Contact us today www.rsig.com to see how we can help you! Plan on joining us at REPO2027 June 14-16, 2027 in Frisco, Texas!

Back-to-School Driving Safety

Every fall, school buses return to their routes, crosswalks fill with kids, and traffic around schools picks up significantly. School zones are among the highest-risk areas for drivers, with crashes occurring three times as frequently during pick-up and drop-off hours compared to other times of day. If you drive for work, that means more hazards along your route and a greater responsibility to slow down and pay attention. Here is what you need to know.

Back-to-School Driving Hazards

Be aware of these common hazards during the school year:

Increased traffic around schools, neighborhoods, and school zones.
Children who may suddenly enter the roadway without looking.
School buses making frequent stops to load and unload students.
Crossing guards directing traffic and pedestrians.
Teen drivers with limited driving experience.
Parents dropping off or picking up students in crowded areas.
Bicyclists, scooters and students walking near roads and intersections.
Changing traffic patterns due to school arrival and dismissal times.

Safety Tips

Slow down in school zones. Always obey posted speed limits and be prepared to reduce your speed even further if children are present. Fines for speeding in school zones are often higher than standard penalties.
Give school buses extra space. Never pass a stopped school bus with red lights flashing and a stop arm extended. Maintain a safe following distance so you have time to react to sudden stops and expect children to be crossing in front of or behind the bus.
Watch for children everywhere. Continuously scan sidewalks, intersections, parking lots and driveways. Children can be unpredictable and may dart into traffic without warning, especially before and after school hours.
Eliminate distractions. Put your phone away and program your GPS before you start driving. Avoid eating, adjusting vehicle controls or anything that pulls your attention from the road, especially in school zones.
Plan your route and schedule. Allow extra travel time during morning and afternoon school traffic periods and consider alternate routes when possible. Never speed to make up lost time, and notify your supervisor if delays will affect your schedule.

Defensive Driving: Good Habits for Back-to-School and Every Season

Back-to-school season brings unpredictable driving conditions. Remember to always follow defensive driving techniques. Increase your following distance, use your turn signals early and check your mirrors frequently. Expect sudden stops and unexpected movements from other drivers. Children are unpredictable, situations change quickly and the consequences of a lapse in attention in a school zone are severe. Stay patient, slow down before you reach a school zone and give others more room than you think you need.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical or legal advice. These guidelines do not supersede local, state, or federal regulations. For further information, please consult a qualified professional. © 2026 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.