Understanding Road Signs: A Guide For Moms With Tiny Tots

Juggling driving and kids is no easy feat. But as usual, mothers have the most amazing ability to do several things at once. Drive with your eyes on the road while trying to play referee for your kids fighting in the backseat? Sure. Answering a call from your boss while doing this? Yes, why not? Oh, you're also pregnant and have been feeling a bit under the weather lately? Throw it all in. Mothers are the best at multitasking, but it is the signs and symbols that guide them the most on the road.

That's why road safety officers need to make sure these signs are placed strategically. The ones painted on the road should also be regularly repainted to assure clarity. Local highway authorities should use a strong adhesion primer paint to ensure the longevity of these road signs. Drivers and mothers who have to focus on driving even when a screaming toddler at the backseat need these signs the most.

Deer Crossing Signs

Living in areas with a large deer population can prove fatal to motorists who do not know what to expect. An average white-tailed deer weighs around 50 kilos. It stands three to four feet tall. A deer on the road is a serious matter, whether you're trying to break off a fight in the backseat or not.

That's why, as a parent who often gets distracted by the kids at the back, you should drive slowly and carefully in these areas. Look out for signs that a deer might cross the road all of a sudden. Braking when you're speeding will cause an accident. Trying to evade the deer when you're driving at 60 mph can be catastrophic, too.

School Zone

Of all people, you should know how important it is to drive carefully in a school zone. Children are walking on the sidewalks. They are crossing the street, too. These kids have a limited understanding of the importance of following the road signs. And although most schools supervise kids crossing the streets, one can never be too sure.

If you are dropping off the kids at school, make sure to follow the signs and directions. Only do the drop off at the place indicated by the school. Don't gain speed until you're off the school zone.

Speed Limits

When you're a mother, it seems that you're always rushing to get to where you need to go. You tend to drive faster after dropping the kids off at school because you're trying to avoid the peak traffic hours. You're late at work and will hit the speed limit on the highway.

Always watch out for the speed limit signs. In school zones, the speed limit is around 10 to 12 mph. On highways, the speed limit is capped at 80 mph. It's nice to drive a bit faster when you're alone and focused on the road. However, you need to remember that you're a mom now, and your kids are going to need you alive and well.

Emotional Appeal

Another kind of road sign is gaining traction recently. With motorists speeding and getting into accidents, some creative signmakers decided to put an emotional appeal on their personalized road signs. Some of these appeals are "Drive like your kids live here" for people who drive super-fast while passing by a residential neighborhood. Others are downright emotional such as "Someone loves you. Drive with care." Many use graphic images of what will happen to them when they get into a car accident.

Although it is not a national policy to make an emotional appeal to motorists, this is a nice touch for mothers who are always on the road driving to get from one place to another. Sometimes, a reminder that her kids are waiting for her to pick them up from school is all a mother needs to see to slow down. Such an emotional appeal will resonate with parents who only have to think about their kids to be a more responsible driver. It's about time road safety officers start putting emotional appeals on their road signs. That might work not only for parents but for the public as well.

Mothers are always on the go. It's important that the government and the community work to create policies that will make it easier for mothers to navigate such a busy world. As they rush from one place to another, their safety matters more than anything else. Through public and private initiatives and proper dissemination of information, mothers can safely do their gazillions of tasks every day.