Posted: August 3,
2006
There’s no denying the first days of school are special ones! Students are intent on finding new
classrooms, locating friends in a maze of people and traffic or finding the bus
or car for the ride home. Parents are
intent on getting to work on time, locating drop-off points, finding on-site
parking and entrances and exits to driveways.
The adrenalin for both motorists and pedestrians is running high and
attention to surroundings is running low.
While pedestrian traffic is always a major concern at
schools, the first few weeks of school are particularly important ones for
motorists to observe extreme caution
near schools, as the students’ uncertainties and excitements of beginning
classes often take precedence over their vehicle traffic awareness.
The Plano Police Department offers the following reminders
for safe motoring throughout the school year:
Drive no more than 20 MPH in designated school zones. Even at 20 MPH, a collision with a child can
be deadly! Speed zones have been created
to alert motorists the possibility of a pedestrian student appearing out of
nowhere is very high. Watching your speedometer
won’t give you the time you need to react.
Peripheral awareness is paramount.
Watch for and obey crossing guards. They are there for both vehicle and
pedestrian traffic protection.
Learn to navigate the carpool process. Observe the traffic flow for carpool/drop-off
lanes. Do not go against the flow, which
creates confusion and delay for everyone. Know where you should turn into the
school drop-off entrance and do not hold up traffic by trying to turn in from
the opposite direction.
Remember drop-off/pickup time requirements. Know and remember how long the drop-off
process takes. Allowing yourself plenty
of time will prevent rushing and carelessness.
Drop children only at school-designated locations. Dropping children at random points along the
way to school may save time but it may not save a life. Children are forced to cross the road at
unprotected sites and tend to dart in and out of traffic. Always deliver your child to the safety of
the school entrance through
designated carpool lanes. Stopping
“along the way” in the carpool lane to unload children creates delays and may
cause injury to your child, as has been experienced here in Plano.
If you don’t want to navigate through the carpool lanes and wait your
turn at the school entrance, park your car a reasonable distance from the
school and escort your student(s) to
the crossing guard for safe passage.
Watch for marked pedestrian crossings where Crossing
Guards are not on duty. Watch the
roadways for clearly marked pedestrian crosswalks. It’s the law that motorists stop and allow
for safe passage of all pedestrians at all
marked locations, not just locations that have guards in attendance. Never “wave” from your vehicle for a child to
cross. Your wave could cause a fatal
accident. Just because you see the child and plan to wait for
them to cross, doesn’t mean the motorists around you are aware of the
instructions you have given.
Commuters consider alternative routes to work. Motorists trying to commute around areas of
peak school traffic might choose another route to avoid frustration. The delays for non-school commuters can be
substantial between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.
Choosing a longer route out of a neighborhood to avoid school traffic
will save time in the end. Frustrated
motorists put pedestrian children at the greatest risk because they are the
most likely drivers to do something unexpected to get out of a jam to avoid
being late for work.
Lead by example.
Exercise patience, observe traffic laws and Crossing Guards and drive
the posted speed to protect our children.
Say thanks to your Crossing Guards. Parental support means a great deal to these
dedicated City employees. They are
providing a vital service to our community’s families of elementary students
and are rarely thanked. Respect the
professional work they do.
If you would be interested in being a School Crossing Guard,
a paid position, contact Michelle Roberts
at 972-941-7783. Positions become
available throughout the year at various locations through the City. Most Guards are able to work within their own
neighborhood.