Police Urge Caution as Kids Head Back to School

With students heading backing to school, are urging both drivers and pedestrians to take precautions to keep the streets safe as more pedestrians are using the roadways.

Drivers should use caution especially while traveling in residential, urban and school areas where pedestrians may cross the street or walk along the roadway, police said.

Pedestrians, especially children, may dart out into traffic from unexpected places like between parked cars. Drivers should always be ready to take evasive action and monitor their speed.

Police also urged parents to share these safety tips with children who walk to school. The National Safe Kids Campaign recommends the following precautions for kids:

• Do not cross the street alone if you are younger than 10 years old.
• Stop at the curb before crossing the street.
• Walk, do not run, across the street.
• Cross at corners, using traffic signals, crossing guards and crosswalks.
• Look left, right and left again before crossing.
• Walk facing traffic.
• Make sure drivers see you before crossing in front of them.
• Do not play in driveways, streets or parking lots.
• Wear white clothing or reflectors when walking at night.
• Cross at least 10 feet in front of a school bus.

The Plainfield Police Department is also warning drivers that it takes a zero tolerance approach to vehicles speeding in 20 mph school zones. A citation for speeding in a school zone brings with it a mandatory court appearance, a conviction against the driver’s driving record and minimum fines and costs of $285.

Drivers should also take care when approaching a school bus stopped to load or unload children. Drivers approaching a stopped school bus that has its stop arm extended and red lights flashing are required to stop and remain stopped until the bus driver retracts the stop arm and turns off the flashing lights.

Driver who get a ticket for failing to stop for a stopped school bus can face a three-month license suspension. If the person driving the vehicle at the time of the violation is not the owner of the vehicle, the owner is required to identify the driver or face suspension of the vehicle’s registration, police said.

Police are also reminding drivers that the use of cell phones is banned in school zones.

Effective since Jan. 1, 2010, the ban prohibits drivers from using a cell phone to dial, redial and talk while in a school zone.