Back-to-School Traffic Is Back: What Roanoke Drivers Should Know

With students returning to school across the Roanoke Valley, local roads are becoming busier. School buses, new teen drivers, hurried parents, and changing traffic patterns can make morning and afternoon commutes more unpredictable.

A few simple precautions can help prevent an accident:

• Allow extra travel time and avoid rushing.

• Leave additional space between vehicles.

• Watch carefully near schools, crosswalks, and bus stops.

• Never pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing and stop arm is extended.

• Put your phone away before you begin driving.

• Be especially alert during morning drop-off and afternoon pickup hours.

What Should You Do After a Fender Bender?

Even a minor collision can leave you shaken. First, check everyone for injuries and call 911 when necessary. If nobody is injured and the vehicles can be moved safely, Virginia transportation officials advise moving them out of active travel lanes.

Next, exchange contact, vehicle, driver’s license, and insurance information. Photograph the vehicles, visible damage, license plates, and the surrounding scene. Avoid making immediate assumptions about whether damage is “only cosmetic”—modern bumpers may conceal sensors, brackets, and other components that need a professional inspection.

When you need collision repairs, you have the right to choose the repair facility you trust.

For more than 30 years, Hannabass & Rowe has helped drivers in Roanoke and surrounding communities get safely back on the road. If an accident interrupts your back-to-school routine, there’s only one name to know: Hannabass and Rowe.

Contact us today to discuss your repair needs or locate the collision center nearest you.