School is starting – safety first

With the start of school nearing, people need to not only begin thinking about lessons in math, English and science, but also about lessons in walking and driving safely near school zones.

To set a precedent for a safe school year, Lake Forest Park Police Chief Dennis Peterson said patrols will be increased in school zone areas once school begins Sept. 3. This will last only a couple of weeks, until drivers realize that summer is over and school is back in session.

“By then, most drivers are aware that school is in and traffic slows down and people are more aware,” Peterson said.

According to Shoreline Police Chief Denise Pentony, in addition to enforcing the 20 mph limit in school zones, police will also follow school buses around and officers in uniform will be positioned near crosswalks.

Even then, “people still don’t pay attention until it’s too late,” Pentony said.

Peterson said the most common type of violation that drivers make in school zones is failing to yield for pedestrians, and also exceeding the speed limit. He said that teen drivers are not a special concern, but that the police are on the look out for all drivers.

“It’s everyone. No one set of people violate more than others,” Peterson said.

Pentony agreed that speeding in school zones is one of the most common violations, but also said driver inattention is a cause for concern, especially because many people talk on cell phones while driving.

Peterson and Pentony recommend several safety precautions that pedestrians can take when walking to and from school. First of all, children should walk in pairs, which make them easier to see. Second, children should look both ways when crossing a crosswalk. Third, children should carefully watch out for traffic and make eye contact with the driver before crossing in front of a car. Even if they see a car, the driver does not necessarily see them. Fourth, never run across the street— always walk. Last, children should wear bright clothing when walking at night.

Both police chiefs also advise parents to take several safety precautions to ensure their childrens’ safety. In addition to walking their children to bus stops, parents should also try to be present when their children step off the bus at the end of the school day. If their children walk to school, Pentony recommends that at least one parent walk with the children the first couple of times, so they can talk about traffic safety.

“Certainly if you have the ability to walk your child to school, that is a good safety precaution,” Peterson said.

In addition to reducing speed to 20 mph in school zones, drivers also need to be on the look out for pedestrians who start across the road without looking, Peterson said.

Perhaps Pentony sums up the concern the police have for the well-being of students and their commitment to shape driver behavior when she said: “We don’t want to have any more kids injured or killed in crosswalks.”