Safe Driving: What to Watch for as a Driver

Article summary

• Modern roads present a growing mix of hazards, from e-bikes and e-scooters to pedestrians, school buses, wildlife and stopped emergency vehicles, each carrying laws that vary by state and change often.
• Drivers can reduce risk by staying alert to their surroundings, obeying speed limits, knowing local laws, using turn signals, checking blind spots and always stopping for school buses with flashing red lights.
• Defensive driving and ongoing education matter, since minor hazards can turn into serious events in seconds, and driver training courses are available for new and experienced drivers alike.

Even if you have a clean driving record and are a stickler for obeying traffic laws, there are a growing number of obstacles that can change the course of events for you at any time from behind the wheel. While some obstacles may feel familiar and common, others are part of newer innovations and technologies that may not be top of mind.

Here, we’re offering a refresher on things to watch for as a driver to help you avoid crashes, injury and even charges for traffic violations. Whether it's kids going back to school, seasonal wildlife activity or year-round pedestrian and e-bike traffic, being aware of what’s going on around you and knowing the laws that coincide with these activities can help you stay safe on the roads and avoid harm and penalties. 

How to share the road safely

How should I drive around e-bikes and e-scooters?

As powered bikes and scooters continue to soar in popularity, so do the dangers for drivers. Because e-bikes and scooters can go faster than a traditional bike, it’s easy for drivers to misjudge speed. At a federal level, e-bikes are categorized as consumer products instead of motor vehicles and are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

E-bikes are defined as having operable pedals, a motor under 750W (1 hp), and a maximum top speed of 20-28 mph, depending on the device. However, actual operation, road rules and age limits for riding these bikes are determined by state and local laws.  

But no matter the state or the local law, motor vehicle drivers have some responsibility for knowing how to safely share the road:

• Stay aware of your surroundings. Scan your environment, including sidewalks near the roadway, and try to anticipate the moves of riders.
• Familiarize yourself with local laws. Watch for e-riders in bike lanes and near intersections.
• Use your turn signals. This helps riders of powered bikes anticipate your moves.
• Give riders extra space when passing. A wider buffer helps protect e-riders from road hazards and passing traffic.
• Check for blind spots. Due to their small size, e-bikes and scooters can be less visible in certain areas. Be especially cautious before turning or reversing.
• Open car doors cautiously. Check the surrounding area to make sure there are no approaching scooters or e-bikes.
• Slow down where children may ride. Young riders can be less experienced and more unpredictable.

For more information on e-bike and e-scooter safety, including practical tips for riders, parents and drivers, download AAA's free E-Ride Ready Safety Guide. 

What should I do when pedestrians are near the road?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 7,080 pedestrians were killed in 2024, and more than 71,000 pedestrians were injured nationwide. And when it comes to keeping pedestrians safe, everyone has a responsibility—especially drivers.

Regulated at state and municipal levels, driving laws governing pedestrian right-of-way may have some overlap in variance, but duty of care for drivers remains high from a national perspective. Some driver safety tips for pedestrian safety include:

• Obey the speed limit. Speed is a critical factor in pedestrian-related accidents.
• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. This applies to drivers in all 50 states, but local laws pertaining to how far back you must stop from the crosswalk or how far the pedestrian can be from your car vary.
• Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing that aren’t visible from the driver’s seat.
• Check twice when backing up, at nighttime or in bad weather. Pedestrians can be hard to see and may appear out of nowhere, since cars have multiple blind spots.
• Exercise extra caution at Halloween and during the school year. Children trick-or-treating or walking to school can be unfamiliar with boundaries, and being smaller in size, they fall easily into blind-spot zones. 

What is the law for driving near school buses?

Like some of the other items on our list, school bus laws are set by individual states. But one thing remains the same for drivers across the nation: school buses pose unique challenges to motorists, with penalties for offenses ranging from fines and license suspension to community service and even jail.

It’s worth knowing the school bus laws in your specific state and reading up on them regularly, as they’re prone to change often and can catch drivers by surprise. Here are some of the measures you’ll want to take when buses are on the roads:

• Always stop for flashing red lights and extended stop arms when the bus is stopped. This is a legal requirement in all 50 states.
• Slow down for flashing yellow lights. Flashing yellow means the bus is preparing to stop and you’re required to keep a safe distance, at least 20 feet from the bus.
• Get familiar with divided highway rules. This is one area that can vary by state, but it’s common for traffic traveling in both directions of a divided highway to have to stop unless there is a raised or physical median barrier.
• Expect children. It may sound obvious, but it’s easy to forget that children can be unpredictable. Keep a safe distance from school buses. Even after the bus’s extended arms retract and flashing red lights stop, watch for children who may have exited to take an unpredictable path back toward the road.

How can I avoid hitting deer and other wildlife?

Deer and other wildlife can enter the roadways at any time of year, and when they do, swerving can be a natural, but risky, reaction. In a previous query of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash data, the AAA Foundation estimated 350,000 police-reported crashes involving deer and other large animals. Here are some things you’ll want to watch for to avoid a collision with wildlife:

• Beware of animal crossings. If you’re driving a road that intersects with a water source, slow down; expect that animals may cross or gather in that area.  
• Use halogen headlamps or high beams at night. Many animals stay on the move in low-light hours.
• Approach roadkill with caution. Many scavenger animals such as raccoons, opossums and coyotes, may dart onto the road to retrieve roadkill, especially in the evenings.
• Watch for tree and grass movement. You can anticipate animal movement when you spot tree or grass movement alongside the road. Scan from left to right, especially when driving in rural or wooded areas. 

What should I do when I approach emergency or disabled vehicles?

The Move Over Law requires drivers in all 50 states to move to an adjacent lane or slow down when approaching stalled, first responder or emergency services vehicles on the roadside. To be as prepared as possible:

• Scan ahead. Look far ahead down the highway shoulder, not just directly in front of your hood.
• Watch for flashing emergency lights or flashing hazard lights. These lights can be red, blue or yellow.
• Look for people. Many times, motorists and emergency personnel are standing on or near the road where traffic is still active.  

For additional information and tips on what to do if you see a vehicle on the shoulder of the road—or if you need to pull over to the shoulder yourself—click here.

Safety never expires: Driver training and education

It’s easy to underestimate the severity of driving dangers—or overlook them entirely as we embrace driving as a part of everyday life. But minor hazards can turn into life-changing events in a split second without the adoption of defensive driving techniques and steady anticipation of what may lie ahead. Whether you’re a new driver or just looking to stay sharp on the road, driver education and training courses are available.