Westmont, Illinois - Date Issued: August 7, 2023
The Westmont Police Department wants to remind everyone that school will soon be back in session and motorists need to pay particular attention to students walking to and from school. School days create both pedestrian and vehicular congestion: School buses picking up passengers, kids on bikes, parents dropping off and picking up their children. It’s important for drivers to slow down and pay attention when kids are present. Observe school zone speed limits and crossings, especially before and after school.
BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY
A few school zone safety reminders can go a long way toward keeping children safe:
DO NOT BLOCK CROSSWALKS - Don’t block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light or waiting to make a turn. This may force pedestrians to walk around the car and put them in the path of moving traffic.
DO NOT BLOCK DRIVEWAYS - As you wait in the pick-up/drop-off line near school,be courteous and allow vehicles to enter/leave their driveway.
YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS - Stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection.
RESPECT CROSSING GUARDS - Always stop for a crossing guard holding up a stop sign. Pay attention to their directions.
OBSERVE SCHOOL SPEED ZONES & MARKED CROSSINGS - Look out for and observe school speed limits and pedestrian crossings. These signs should serve as your warning to slow down and pay close attention to students who may be in the area.
DO NOT PASS STOPPED CARS - Never pass a vehicle that is stopped for pedestrians or unloading passengers.
BE PATIENT - Always use extreme caution when pedestrians are present to avoid accidents, no matter who has the right of way.
SCHOOL BUS SAFETY
Following are a few reminders regarding school bus safety:
KEEP YOUR DISTANCE BEHIND A BUS - 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 amber lights start flashing, which indicate the bus will be loading/unloading students.
STOP FOR SCHOOL BUSES - It is illegal to pass a school bus that is stopped, has its red flashers on, and/or the stop signal arm is extended. If you are on a two-lane road or undivided road, then cars must stop from both directions.
WATCH FOR STUDENTS - Watch for students who are getting on and off the bus. Do not proceed until students have cleared the roadway and the bus has turned off its red flashing lights, or the stop signal arm has retracted.
For more information regarding back to school safety, visit the National Safety Council website.
##
