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08/22/2017 12:00 AMAll students in the East Haven Public Schools will return to class on Aug. 28. To best ensure a smooth transition back to school in just a couple weeks, the East Haven Police Department encourages parents and students to review several important safety tips.
“Whether students get to school via car, bus, bike or by walking, we know that school zones are busy traffic areas and additional precautions are needed,” Deputy Chief James Naccarato said. “Parents should remind children to always be mindful of their surroundings and to keep safety at the forefront of their minds.”
Given how often students are on their phones texting, browsing the Internet or playing games, the East Haven Police Department recommends that parents talk to their children about the following safety tips provided by the National Safety Council (NSC) when headed to and from school:
• Never walk while texting. If you need to send a text, move out of the way of others and stop on the sidewalk.
• Never cross the street while using an electronic device.
• Look left, right, then left again before crossing the street.
• Cross only at crosswalks.
• Drivers should be on increased alert when traveling through school zones and should never text and drive. Additionally, the NSC reminds operators that:
• In a school zone, when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection.
• Always stop for a crossing guard who may be trying to get students safely across the street.
• Take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas.
• Don’t honk or rev your engine to scare a pedestrian, even if you have the right of way.
• Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.
To best ensure that children who travel to school by bus get there safely, East Haven Police advise that students follow these tips from the NSC:
Getting on the bus:
• When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic and avoid roughhousing or other behavior that can lead to carelessness.
• Line up away from the street as the bus approaches.
• Wait until the bus has stopped and the doors open before approaching.
Behavior on the bus:
• If available, always wear your seat belt.
• Don’t put your head, arms, or hands out the window.
• Wait for the bus to stop completely before getting up from your seat.
Getting off the bus:
• If you have to cross in front of the bus, walk at least 10 feet ahead until you can see the driver. Make sure the driver can see you too.
• Wait for a signal from the driver before crossing. When the driver signals, look left, right, then left again. Walk across the road and keep an eye out for sudden traffic changes.
• If your vision is blocked, move to an area where you can see other drivers and they can see you.