As children return to school, remember that this means heavy traffic, children walking or biking to school and parents rushing to drop off their children before heading to work and rushing to pick them up. To help remind you and ensure the safety of our children, officers have received grant money to monitor school zones and strictly enforce the rules in these areas. As such, law enforcement will be in full force for the next couple of weeks patrolling school zones and other areas traveled by children going back to school.
According to the National Safe Routes to School program, more children are hit by cars near schools than at any other location. If you drive past schools during drop-off or pick-up times; slow down and be vigilant about looking around. Be prepared to brake quickly if a child jets out from behind a car or school bus. The National Safety Council suggests that most of the people who lose their lives in bus-related incidents are children 4 to 7 years old who are walking near a bus. These children are typically either hit by a bus or by a driver who is illegally passing a parked bus.
Driving Tips for Driving Near a School Zone:
- Put away your cell phone
- Always yield to children and school patrol officers or crossing guards entering a cross-walk
- Never block a cross-walk when stopped at a light or waiting to make a turn
- Drive slowly and be on the lookout for children. The speed limit in school zones is 15 mph.
- Never pass a vehicle in a school zone.
- Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.
Driving Tips for Sharing the Road with School Buses:
- When driving behind a bus, leave a bigger distance than if you were driving behind a car.
- Never pass a bus that is stopped to load or unload children.
- If the bus’ yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, stop.
- Stop at least 15 feet back from behind a school bus to allow the children space to safely enter and exit the bus as the area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children.
- Be on the look-out for kids running out from the front or back of a bus.
Driving Tips for Sharing the Road with Kids on Bikes:
- Use your turn signals with enough warning
- Leave three feet between your vehicle and the bicycle if you need to pass and proceed slowly.
- If a bicyclist is approaching from the opposite direction while you are waiting to turn left, wait for the bicyclist to pass.
- If you are about to turn right and you see a bicyclist approaching from behind on the right, let them go through the intersection.
- Be on the lookout for children on bikes turning in front of you without signaling.
- Watch for bikes entering the road from driveways or behind parked cars or buses.
- Check your side mirror for an oncoming bicyclist before opening your car door.
Tips for Parents with Kids Riding Their Bike to School:
- Remind your kids to always use a helmet and to buckle their chin guard.
- Remind your kids not to use their cell phones while riding their bikes.
- Remind your kids not to use earphones when riding their bikes.
- Remind your kids to make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street.
- Always cross at intersections and designated crosswalks. Look left, right and then left again before proceeding.
Enjoy back to school safely.