Full Notification

The North Caldwell Police Department is urging motorists to use extra caution at the start of this school year. Parents are reminded to review safety tips with their children.

Anyone behind the wheel should drive attentively and watch for children on sidewalks, along roadways, and at all crosswalks and intersections. Remember that texting or using a cellular phone while driving is against the law in New Jersey.

The North Caldwell Police Department offers these tips for motorists, parents, and children:

Motorists:
•Reduce speeds in and around school zones.

•Take extra time to look for children at intersections, on medians and curbs.

•Be prepared to stop for any school buses.

•Enter and exit driveways, parking lots, and alleys slowly and carefully.

•Do not engage in distracted driving. Put down the phone and focus on driving, texting while driving is against the law in New Jersey.

•Watch for pedestrian traffic and prepare to stop if a pedestrian is approaching the intersection.

•Every vehicle has blind spots. Check for children on the sidewalk, driveway and around your vehicle before slowly backing up. Teach your children to never play in, under or around vehicles—even those that are parked.

•Come to a complete stop. Always come to a complete stop, checking carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding.

•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 the bicycle. If your child rides a bicycle to school, require that they wear a properly-fitted bicycle helmet on every ride.

Review with school children:
•Never run out into the street or cross in between parked cars.

•Create a morning schedule that allows plenty of time to arrive at school safely.

•Wait for the crossing guard to signal that it’s safe to cross the street.

School children & safety tips for walking to school:

•Parents should walk the route to school with students before the start of the year and select a course with the least number of traffic crossings.

•Cross only at intersections or crosswalks and obey all traffic signs and signals.

•Do not enter a crosswalk if a vehicle is too close or moving too fast to stop.

•In general, children under age 10 should cross the street with an adult.

Chief Mark Deuer asks that all drivers focus on their responsibility to drive safely and use additional caution – especially in school zones.

Thank you for helping us keep North Caldwell safe !