Clearlake >> As Labor Day has passed it is time to remember that children are back to school. In the mornings and afternoon there will be an increase of children walking, riding bicycles, and going to and from school. There will also be an increase in the volume of traffic due to school buses and parents transporting children to and from school.
Here are a few things to remember as we go forward with the new school year to help ensure the safety of children:
1. Give yourself some extra time: With the increase in vehicle, cyclist and pedestrian traffic, as well as those of you who now need to add taking the kids to school to your schedule, give yourself some extra time in the morning. That way you are not in a rush and tempted to speed or put safety aside to get where you are going.
2. School zone speed limit is 25 mph: When driving within 500 feet before and after a school while children are outside or crossing the street, the speed limit is 25 mph unless otherwise posted. Also, if the school grounds have no fence and children are outside, never drive faster than 25 mph. Some school zones may have speed limits as low as 15 mph.
3. School buses: The driver of any vehicle, upon meeting or overtaking, from either direction of a school bus, that is stopped for the purpose of loading or unloading any schoolchildren and displays a flashing red light signal and stop signal arm, visible from front or rear, shall bring the vehicle to a stop immediately before passing the school bus and shall not proceed past the school bus until the flashing red light signal and stop signal arm, if equipped with a stop signal arm, cease operation.
Also, a vehicle driver approaching an intersection at which a school bus is stopped shall stop his/her vehicle at that intersection until the flashing red signals are no longer actuated.
4. Pedestrians and cross walks: Many of our schools have crosswalks and crossing guards in the roadways and intersections around our schools. The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk.
5. Bicycle helmets: In California, anyone younger than the age of 18 must wear a helmet when riding a bicycle on a street, bikeway or public bicycle path or trail. The law also requires anyone under 18 to wear a helmet when riding a scooter, skateboard or when using in-line skates. So parents, make sure your children have and are wearing a helmet.
