YPD offers back-to-school safety tips

Drivers, students can help prevent injuries

The Yuma Police Department would like to provide the community with some back-to-school safety tips. Awareness and education can be used as tools to help keep children safe.

Designated school zones are in place this week. The posted speed limit in a school zone is 15 miles per hour from portable sign to portable sign. Drivers may NOT proceed through a school zone crosswalk until all pedestrians have cleared the crosswalk.

Drivers are encouraged to adjust their drive times due to the school zones and increased traffic near schools. They should also be aware of students riding bicycles and walking to school.

Parents are asked to discuss pedestrian safety and to encourage their children to use designated school zone crosswalks to cross the street.

Students riding bicycles are reminded to wear helmets in accordance to the city ordinance. Parents should ensure their high-school drivers leave for school early.

In addition to the extra patrol provided by the YPD’s traffic unit in school zones, they also have School Resource Officers at the middle and high schools and Neighborhood School Resource Officers assigned to elementary schools.

If your child walks to school, ensure they leave early enough to get to school 10 minutes prior to the start of classes, and to use the same route every day, avoiding any shortcuts.

Students should use public sidewalks and streets when walking to school, and go straight home after school. They should also, if possible, walk with other students.

Choose the safest route between home and school. Practice walking the route with your children until they can demonstrate traffic safety awareness. Teach children to recognize and obey traffic signals, as well as pavement markings.

Cross at designated crosswalks, street corners and traffic controlled intersections. Always look both ways before crossing the street. Never enter a street from between parked cars or from behind shrubbery.

Walk — don’t run — across intersections. A flashing “walk” signal or the crossing guard in the street does not mean it is safe to cross; doublecheck that the intersection is clear.

Avoid talking to strangers. Teach children to get distance between themselves and anyone who tries to approach or make contact with them.

Never get into a vehicle with a person — even if you know them — without a parent’s permission. If a stranger approaches, tell a trusted adult such as a parent or teacher.

If you have any questions about school safety or other concerns, please contact the Yuma Police Department at 373-4700.