Decatur Police Department “Back to School Tips” 2017-2018 School Year

Decatur Police Department “Back to School Tips” 2017-2018 School Year

The Decatur Police Department would like to share a few back to school tips on sharing the road with school buses and young pedestrians.

As summer draws to a close, back-to-school season is in full effect. Remember to safely share the roads with school buses and pedestrians, and provide children with the necessary knowledge to stay safe at school.

Whether children walk or take the bus to school, it is extremely important that they – and the motorist around them – take proper safety precautions.

If you’re driving behind a bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car. It will give you more time to stop once the yellow lights start flashing. It is illegal to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children.

Never pass a bus from behind – or from either direction if you’re on an undivided road – if it is stopped to load or unload children

If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop

The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus

Be alert; children often are unpredictable, and they tend to ignore hazards and take risks

By exercising a little extra care and caution, and making certain your child knows the importance of being aware of their surroundings, drivers and pedestrians can co-exist safely in school zones.

Please remember Decatur Police will have an extra presence in all our school zones starting this week and will be strictly enforcing traffic laws. So please follow these tips and drive safely around our schools.