School pickup and drop off: how to keep crosswalks, bike lanes and bus zones clear
Habits that keep kids safe in the car line, near crosswalks and around the bus
The busiest 20 minutes of the school day
Every school has its own version of the scene. Cars stack up down the block. A parent in a hurry pulls into the bike lane to let a child out. Someone double parks across from the entrance and waves their kid across the street. A bus waits for the line to clear while a crossing guard tries to keep it all moving.
None of these drivers is trying to put a child at risk. They’re late for work, the line is long and it’s only 30 seconds. But the school entrance packs hundreds of small people, distracted adults and big vehicles into a small space for a short time. Every shortcut lands on someone else.
The car line has grown as more kids ride to school. Among students in kindergarten through eighth grade, the share who usually walked or biked to school fell from 48% in 1969 to 13% in 2009. Over the same years, the share driven in a family car rose from 12% to 45% [5]. By 2017, about 11.1% of K through 8 students walked or biked [6]. In 2009, cars taking students to school made up 10% to 14% of personal vehicle trips during the morning rush [5].
More cars at the curb means more chances for a child to step out from behind one.
What the crash data show
Deadly crashes tied to school travel are rare. They made up 0.3% of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024 [2]. But they cluster at predictable times and places.
NHTSA tracks crashes tied to school travel. From 2015 to 2024, 77 school age pedestrians were killed in these crashes [2].
- 44 were struck by school buses or vehicles used as school buses, and 33 by other vehicles [2].
- 55% were ages 5 to 10 [2].
- 66% were not at intersections [2].
- The deadliest hours were 7 to 7:59 a.m., with 20 deaths, and 3 to 3:59 p.m., with 19 [2].
Looking more broadly at all crashes, 172 children age 14 and younger were killed while walking in 2024. The biggest share, 28%, died between 3 and 5:59 p.m., the after school window. Most, 69%, were hit away from intersections [7]. Another 56 children were killed while riding bikes that year [7].
The school bus brings its own danger. Between 2000 and 2024, drivers illegally passing stopped school buses were involved in crashes that killed 63 people. Of those, 27 were pedestrians age 18 or younger [8]. NHTSA notes that passing a school bus while its stop arm is out and its red lights are flashing is illegal in every state [9].
What goes wrong in the car line
One of the largest looks at driver behavior at schools comes from Safe Kids Worldwide. In 2016, Safe Kids coalitions in 14 states watched about 56,000 drivers during drop off and pickup at middle and high schools [1].
- About 1 in 10 drivers were distracted by a phone or other device, most often talking on the phone [1].
- Nearly 1 in 3 drivers did at least one unsafe thing, such as double parking or stopping in a crosswalk [1].
- Distraction was more common at afternoon pickup than at morning drop off [1].
A study of 118 elementary schools in Toronto found dangerous drop off behavior at 88% of them. Schools with more of those behaviors had more child pedestrian crashes nearby. Each added type of dangerous behavior was linked to a 45% higher collision rate [10]. That study shows a link, not proof of cause, but it fits what crossing guards and teachers see every day.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
| Shortcut | Why it’s risky |
|---|---|
| Double parking | It “blocks visibility for other children and vehicles,” according to the National Safety Council [3] |
| Dropping off across the street | The National Safety Council advises against it [3]. The child has to cross traffic alone, often midblock |
| Stopping in a crosswalk | Forces walkers into the road around your car, and is illegal in many states [11, 12] |
| Pulling into a bike lane | Pushes students on bikes into moving traffic |
| Using the bus zone | Blocks buses and puts cars where children expect only buses [4] |
| Backing up or making a U-turn | A school travel guide calls backing “one of the riskiest driving behaviors” in the car line [4] |
| Using a phone in line | Takes your eyes off children moving between cars [1] |
Keep these three spaces clear
Crosswalks
A car stopped in or right next to a crosswalk hides children and blocks their path. Texas law bans stopping on a crosswalk, in an intersection or next to a car already stopped at the curb [11]. California bans stopping on a crosswalk and within 20 feet of the approach side of any crosswalk. Tickets have been allowed since January 1, 2025 [12].
Rules near crosswalks vary. Texas, for example, allows a driver to stand briefly within 20 feet of a crosswalk at an intersection to pick up or drop off a passenger [11]. California does not [12]. On school property, the school’s own plan applies. When in doubt, pull past the crosswalk and stop at the curb.
Bike lanes
More schools now encourage biking. Many have bike lanes on the streets out front. A parent who stops in that lane for 30 seconds forces every student on a bike to swing out into traffic beside the car line. Treat the bike lane as a travel lane for kids, because at 8 a.m. that’s what it is.
Bus zones
Keep private cars out of the bus loading area, even if it looks empty [4]. Buses need room to pull in and out. Children getting off a bus expect to walk straight to the sidewalk. Many schools give cars a separate entrance for this reason [13]. When a bus on the street stops with red lights flashing and its stop arm out, stop. Wait until the red lights stop flashing and the stop arm is folded back [9].
A safer drop off and pickup routine
Small changes make the biggest difference. Try this routine for a week and it starts to feel normal.
- Learn the school’s plan. Read the arrival and dismissal procedure. Follow it even when the line is long [3].
- Pull forward as far as you can. This keeps the line moving and gives more cars room to unload safely [4].
- Let kids out on the curb side only. Children who step straight onto the curb never have to deal with moving traffic [4].
- Stay with your vehicle. Hand off backpacks before you arrive so you don’t need to get out [4].
- Put the phone away. Some schools treat the car line as a phone free zone [14].
- Don’t back up or make U-turns. Pull forward and around instead [4, 13].
- Never call your child across the street. Meet them on the school’s side or at a crossing guard [3].
- Check mirrors before doors open. Look for kids on bikes before your child opens the door [3].
Backing up deserves extra care around schools. Backup cameras, now required on new vehicles, have helped. In a Houston study, backover injuries among children under 5 fell from 11.6 a year before the federal rule to 5.3 a year after it [15]. Cameras still miss things, so look behind you too.
If you're just driving past a school
You don’t need a child in the car line to be part of it. Anyone driving past a school during arrival or dismissal is sharing the street with it. The deadliest hours for school age pedestrians are 7 to 8 a.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. [2].
- Slow down well before the school zone sign. Obey the reduced limit when it’s in effect.
- Watch for children stepping out between stopped cars in the car line. A parked or waiting car hides a small child completely.
- Don’t pass cars that are stopped in the car line or at a crosswalk. Someone may be crossing in front of them.
- Give students on bikes and scooters extra room, and expect them to wobble or swerve.
- Follow every signal from a crossing guard, even if the crosswalk looks clear to you.
- Put the phone away. Distraction was most common in the afternoon pickup rush [1].
If you can, avoid the streets right in front of the school during arrival and dismissal. A route one block over is often faster anyway.
Park and walk the last few blocks
One of the simplest fixes is to skip the car line altogether. Some schools promote “walk on in” days, where families park about a quarter mile away and walk the rest of the way [13, 4]. It thins the line, frees up the curb for families who need it and gives kids a few minutes to wake up.
If you do this, choose a legal parking spot away from crosswalks. Walk with younger children until they know the route.
Phones and idling in the line
Waiting in the car line is prime time for checking messages. It’s also when children walk between cars. Handheld phone use while driving is banned for all drivers in 33 states and Washington, D.C. [16]. A few states single out schools. Arkansas and Florida ban handheld use in school and work zones. Louisiana covers school and highway construction zones [16]. Texas bans wireless device use on public school property during school zone hours unless the car is stopped or the device is hands free [11].
Idling is another car line issue. The EPA found “elevated levels of benzene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde” at schools in the afternoon, when parents arrive for pickup [17]. Massachusetts bans unnecessary idling by any vehicle on school grounds [18]. Turning off your engine while you wait is an easy fix.
What schools can do
Parents can only do so much if the layout works against them. Safe Kids found that schools with a designated drop off zone cut the odds of unsafe driving by almost 50%. Policies that were enforced made a difference, while policies that weren’t enforced did not. About 4 in 10 middle schools and 6 in 10 high schools in the study did not enforce their rules [1].
These steps draw on Safe Routes to School guidance on arrival and dismissal [13] and the Safe Kids findings on enforcement [1].
Frequently asked questions
Can I drop my child off across the street from school?
It’s not a good idea. The National Safety Council advises, “Don’t load or unload children across the street from the school” [3]. Your child has to cross traffic alone, often between parked cars.
Is it illegal to stop in the crosswalk at school?
On public streets, usually yes. Texas and California both ban stopping on a crosswalk [11, 12]. On school property, follow the school’s procedure.
Can I use my phone while waiting in the car line?
In 33 states and Washington, D.C., handheld phone use while driving is banned for all drivers [16]. Texas specifically bans it on public school property during school zone hours unless the car is stopped or the device is hands free [11]. The safest choice is to put the phone away until you leave.
Should my child get out on the curb side?
Yes. When children step straight onto the curb, they don’t have to deal with moving traffic [4].
Who is most at risk near schools?
Young children. In school travel crashes from 2015 to 2024, 55% of the school age pedestrians killed were ages 5 to 10. Most were hit away from intersections [2].
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
The car line moves fast. The shortcuts feel harmless when you’re running late. Double parking, a quick stop in the bike lane or waving a child across the street each save a few seconds. They also put kids between cars and away from crosswalks, where most child pedestrian deaths happen [7].
Pick a routine and stick with it. Follow the school’s plan, pull forward, let kids out on the curb side, keep the phone down and leave crosswalks, bike lanes and bus zones open. If the line is a mess, park a few blocks away and walk. And if your school’s layout makes safe choices hard, raise it with the principal or parent group. Safe Kids found that a clear, enforced plan makes a real difference [1].
Related articles
- School bus and school zone safety: when to stop and how to protect kids
- School bus stop arm and school zone laws by state: 2026 guide
- Crossing guard stop paddles and safety vests: what to look for and how to use them
- Hot car deaths and backovers: how to keep kids safe in and around cars
- Engaging parents in teen driver safety: a playbook for schools and groups
Sources and further reading
- 1Safe Kids Worldwide. “Alarming Dangers in School Zones.” October 2016. safekids.org/…/alarming_dangers_in_school_…
- 2National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). “School-Transportation-Related Traffic Crashes: 2015-2024 Data” (DOT HS 813 819). July 2026. crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/…/813819
- 3National Safety Council (NSC). “Back to School Safety Tips for Drivers.” Accessed October 2026. nsc.org/…/back-to-school-safety-tips-…
- 4Columbus Public Health, Safe Routes to School. “School Arrival and Dismissal Guide.” Accessed October 2026. ccsoh.us/…/Arrival%20Dismissal.pdf
- 5National Center for Safe Routes to School. “How Children Get to School: School Travel Patterns From 1969 to 2009.” November 2011. pedbikeinfo.org/…/NHTS_school_travel_report_2…
- 6Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC). “Who is Walking or Biking to School? Patterns from the 2017 National Household Travel Survey and Future Directions.” October 2019. pedbikeinfo.org/…/PBIC_InfoBrief_NHTS.pdf
- 7National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). “Children: 2024 Data” (DOT HS 813 811). June 2026. crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/…/813811
- 8NHTSA Traffic Safety Marketing. “School Bus Safety” campaign page. Accessed October 2026. trafficsafetymarketing.gov/taxonomy/term/160
- 9National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). “School Bus Safety.” Accessed October 2026. nhtsa.gov/road-safety/school-bus-safety
- 10Rothman L, Howard A, Buliung R, Macarthur C, Macpherson A. “Dangerous student car drop-off behaviors and child pedestrian-motor vehicle collisions: An observational study.” Traffic Injury Prevention 2016;17(5):454-459. doi.org/10.1080/15389588.2015.1116041
- 11Texas Transportation Code Sections 545.302 (stopping, standing or parking prohibited in certain places), 545.425 and 545.4252 (wireless communication devices). statutes.capitol.texas.gov/…/TN.545.htm
- 12California Vehicle Code Section 22500 (2025 code, as amended by AB 413). law.justia.com/…/section-22500
- 13Safe Routes to School National Partnership. “Keep Calm and Carry On to School: Improving Arrival and Dismissal for Walking and Biking.” 2018. saferoutespartnership.org/…/improving_arrival_and_dismi…
- 14Solano Transportation Authority, Safe Routes to School. “Drop-off and Pick-up Reference Sheet.” October 2020. solanosr2s.ca.gov/…/Drop-off-Pick-up-reference-…
- 15Joly JM, et al. “Preventing pediatric backover trauma: The impact of a federally mandated car safety feature.” Journal of Pediatric Surgery 2026;61(10):163303. doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2026.163303
- 16Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). “Distracted Driving” state law table. Updated October 2025. ghsa.org/…/distracted%20driving
- 17U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “Idle-Free Schools Toolkit for a Healthy School Environment.” Updated February 19, 2026. epa.gov/…/idle-free-schools-toolkit-h…
- 18Massachusetts regulation 540 CMR 27.00: Prevention of motor vehicle idling on school grounds (via Cornell Legal Information Institute). law.cornell.edu/…/540-CMR-27-01
This article reflects the safety priorities of child pedestrian safety and school travel education. It covers the risks at school drop off and pickup, what some state laws say and habits that keep crosswalks, bike lanes and bus zones clear. It is general education, not legal advice. Follow your school’s procedure and check local rules. Reviewed October 2026.
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