Full Notification

The Glendale Police Department would like to welcome all Glendale students back to school this week. Back to school can be a busy and exciting time for families. It should not be a time for tragedy. Parents should encourage their children to make the best choices and discuss safety tips when walking, biking, or riding to school.

Whether your child walks to school with you or friends, rides their bike to school, or participates in a carpool with you or a carpool group, it is always important to take proper safety precautions. When walking to school, be sure to walk on the sidewalk, always look both ways when crossing the street and never walk in front of a parked car.

Riding bicycles to school require extra safety precautions. Children should always wear a helmet when riding a bike and parents should teach children the rules of cycling including always riding on the right side of the road and in single file as well as coming to a complete stop when crossing the street and stopping at stop signs.

Walking

• Make sure the route to school is safe and your child is comfortable with this route
• Tell your child if a stranger asks them a question; do not get close to the car. Make sure they never get into a car with a stranger
• Establish a code word to identify a person as a trusted adult
• When you can’t walk with your child, make sure they walk with a friend
• Always cross at an intersection or crosswalk, if available. Remember to look both ways before crossing
• When no cars are coming, walk - do not run - across the road, and keep looking for cars while crossing
• At intersections with traffic lights, watch for turning cars and obey all traffic signals
• Always walk on the sidewalk if there is one available. If there is not a sidewalk, be sure to walk facing traffic so you can see what's coming
• Do not run between parked cars and buses
• Do not run across the street or through a parking lot
• No cell phone talking or texting while going to or from school. Watch what’s going on around you

Bicycling

• Choose the safest route possible for a bicycle
• Always wear a properly fitted helmet
• Always ride on the right side of the road. Never ride against traffic
• When riding in groups, always ride single file, not side by side
• Watch out for dangers in the roadway – storm drains, gravel, pot holes, trash
• Stop at all stop signs and at all traffic lights. Be extra careful at crossroads
• Watch out when riding next to parked cars. Drivers may not see you and can quickly open doors or pull into the street
• Listen for cars approaching from the side or behind you. Never wear headphones
• Know your road signs and obey them
• Always be prepared to stop
• No cell phone talking or texting while riding. Watch what’s going on around you

Drivers – Parents and Teens
Parents and caregivers:

• Follow all traffic laws and take safety precautions, especially when driving in areas where children may be present. The maximum speed limit in school zones is 25 MPH when children are near the road
• In school drop off and pick up zones, be extra alert and drive slowly. Watch for your children and all the other children too
• Do your eating and grooming before leaving home with the children. Keep your cell phone turned off until you reach work
• Children must be secured in the back seat in an appropriate car seat or booster seat if they are under the age of eight or are less than 4’9” tall

Teens:

• Your high school driving years are the most dangerous. Be aware and cautious
• Don’t be distracted by cell phones, friends, or too much fun in the car
• Use your seat belts every day, every trip. Seat belts save more lives than anything else
• Take it easy. It takes a couple of years before you really know how to drive in all circumstances

For more information about traffic safety, please visit the below links:

Walk Bike Glendale: https://walkbikeglendale.wordpress.com/
Distraction Free Driving: http://www.glendaleca.gov/government/departments/police-department/community-outreach/driven-2-distraction/links

National Safety Council http://www.nsc.org/pages/home.aspx

Safe Kids: http://www.safekids.org/