The Marshall County Emergency Management Agency would like to remind everyone that the new school year begins on August 2, for several school corporations in the area. Drivers need to be proactive in order to keep kids safe as they head back to school.
Here are some simple reminders:
• Reduce any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings. Put down your cell phone and don’t talk or text while driving.
• Slow down and obey all traffic laws and speed limits and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods and school zones.
• When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch for children walking or biking to school.
• Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and between vehicles.
• Keep an eye out for children walking in the street, especially where there are no sidewalks.
• Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefu lly.
• Be aware of kids riding bicycles.
• Watch for children on and near the road in the morning and after school hours.
• Always stop for a school bus that has stopped to load or unload passengers. Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is about to make a stop. Red flashing lights and an extended stop arm tell you the school bus is stopped to load and unload children.
• Traffic on an undivided highway must stop in both directions when the school bus stop arm is extended and the red flashing lights on the bus are activated.
• Always stop for a school crossing guard in the roadway.
REMEMBER: Be considerate and civil, have patients and we can avoid a tragedy from occurring.
