Full Notification

School Traffic Issues

Ripon, CA – Ripon Police Department officers have been out in force since the beginning of the school year, patrolling school zones, to promote traffic safety. Officers have indentified the following issues:

• Slow down. Speed limits in school zones are reduced for a reason. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25 mph is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling just 10 mph faster.

• Come to a complete stop. Research shows that more than one-third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods. Always come to a complete stop, checking carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding.

• Do not block driveways. When dropping off or picking up students, please do not block school, or residential driveways.

• Do not let passengers exit the vehicle while it’s in the traffic lane. Children should not be allowed to exit the vehicle while it’s still in the traffic lane. Drivers should pull over in a designated area, and passengers should exit to the sidewalk. Drivers should not be stopping in the roadway, to let passengers exit/enter the vehicle.

• Eliminate distractions. Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of crashing. And children can be quick, crossing the road unexpectedly or emerging suddenly between two parked cars. Reduce risk by not using your cell phone or eating while driving, for example.

• Reverse responsibly. Every vehicle has blind spots. Check for children on the sidewalk, in the driveway and around your vehicle before slowly backing up. Teach your children to never play in, under or around vehicles.

• Watch for bicycles. Children on bikes are often inexperienced, unsteady and unpredictable. Slow down and allow at least three feet of passing distance between your vehicle and a bicyclist. If your child rides a bicycle to school, require that he or she wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet on every ride. Please ensure that your child is wearing a bicycle helmet.

• Talk to your teen. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States, and nearly one in four fatal crashes involving teen drivers occur during the after-school hours of 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Ripon Police Department officers will continue to monitor school zones and promote traffic safety by educating the public about school zone traffic issues. Education may be completed by warnings, or traffic citations.


Contact Info:
P.I.O. – Lieutenant Steve Merchant
Ripon Police Department
259 N. Wilma Ave.
Ripon, CA 95336
209-599-2102 Business
[email protected]