Ep. 630 Back to School Traffic Safety: Protecting Students and Drivers

Rancho Mesa’s Client Technology Specialist, Brenda Colby sit down with Client Technology Coordinator, Chad Winder talk about how to keep company drivers safe as students return to school.

Show Notes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Rancho Mesa's Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠

Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Brenda Colby⁠⁠⁠⁠

Guest: Chad Winder

Editor: Jadyn Brandt

Music: "Home" by JHS Pedals, “Breaking News Intro” by nem0production

© Copyright 2026. Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc. All rights reserved.

Transcript

Brenda Colby: You’re listening to Rancho Mesa’s StudioOne™ podcast, where each week we break down complex insurance and safety topics to help your business thrive.  I’m your host, Brenda Colby, and I’m joined by Chad Winder, Client Technology Coordinator with Rancho Mesa, and we’re going to talk about how to keep company drivers safe as students return to school.

Chad, welcome to the show.

Chad Winder: Happy to be here Brenda.

BC: We’re happy you’re here.

So Chad, we know based off data shared by the National Safety Council that motor-vehicle fatalities often increase in the month of August. Can you explain why August presents an increase in traffic risks for company drivers, and what new road hazards should drivers expect in the coming month?

CW: Well, August is the start of the school year for many districts. That means roads are going to be more congested than they were in the summer months. Company drivers need to be prepared for heavier pedestrian traffic, especially near schools and residential neighborhoods where children may cross unexpectedly.

They should also watch for inexperienced teen drivers and students using bikes, e-bikes, scooters, and skateboards, as they can be unpredictable, stepping out into traffic or switching lanes unexpectedly.

BC: Yea, and I’ve seen plenty of kids riding their e-bikes and electric scooters through traffic before/after school. And because they travel at a higher speed than a normal bike, they often are less predictable, leading to slower reaction times for drivers.

So, what driving practices can help company drivers safely navigate school zones, increased pedestrian traffic, and inexperienced teen drivers?

CW: Well, staying alert at all times is a necessity, especially during those busy drop-off and pick-up times. Following reduced speed limits in school zones, maintaining safe following distances, and anticipating sudden stops can help drivers react to unexpected situations. It’s also a good idea to train employees on defensive driving habits to help them stay prepared.

BC: Yeah, and speaking of training, a strong fleet safety program that includes on-going training can help prevent dangerous behavior behind the wheel.

So Chad, will you tell us about some of the resources Rancho Mesa provides to support driver safety?

CW: Absolutely. Taking a proactive approach to fleet safety helps reinforce safe driving habits before incidents occur by providing training on defensive driving, and distraction avoidance. These programs help both new and experienced drivers recognize hazards and reduce the likelihood of collisions during the busy back-to-school season.

Also, Rancho Mesa offers many SafetyOne™ resources, including comprehensive online driver safety training, 52 driver-specific toolbox talks for weekly safety meetings, an automobile accident report, and a webinar on how to build a fleet safety program.

BC: That’s great! And we’ll have the link to register for the on-demand fleet safety webinar in the episode notes.

So Chad, if listeners have questions about using SafetyOne™ resources for fleet safety, how can they get in contact with you?

CW: Clients can contact me at cwinder@ranchomesa.com or call me directly at 619-499-7389.

BC: Great, and if clients would like to connect with me, you can reach me at bcolby@ranchomesa.com or (619) 486-6562.

So Chad, thanks for joining me in StudioOne.

CW: Thanks for having me.

BC: Thank you for tuning in to our latest episode produced by StudioOne. If you enjoyed what you heard, please share this episode and subscribe. For more insights like this, visit us at ranchomesa.com and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.