Full Notification

Approximately 17,000 students attending Santa Clara Unified School District schools start tomorrow. As kids and their parents get back into the school routine, it is important to keep traffic safety in mind.

The Santa Clara Police Department's Traffic Unit will be present in school zones throughout the city. We also urge parents to read these valuable reminders and talk to your kids about getting to and from school safely.

Adults
Budget extra travel time. School areas are congested. Allow more time than is needed to get where you are going.

Be aware of your speed in school zones. The posted speed limit in school zones is 25 mph.

Yield to crossing guards. Crossing guards are an integral party to a school’s traffic plan. Be aware of their presence, listen to instructions and follow traffic safety laws.

Watch out for hot spots. Pay extra attention to "hot spots" like school zones, crosswalks, bike lanes, bus stops and school parking lots.
Don't text while driving. Don't talk on your phone or send text messages while you are driving.

Yield to school buses. Don't try to overtake a school bus – it is a moving violation. If a bus has a flashing red light, you are legally required to stop and wait for the light to turn off.

Expect the unexpected. Children are unpredictable. Kids are walking, riding a bicycle, crossing streets and “horsing around” a bit on their way to and from school. They have the potential to dart out unexpectedly, or may not be proficient in their bicycle skills. Be aware.
Talk with your kids about getting to and from school safely.

Children
Exercise crosswalk safety. Tell your kids to cross streets only at crosswalks or stoplights and to always look both ways before crossing.
Use the buddy system. Know their planned route, make sure you have the contact information of your child's walking buddy and be sure to communicate on day(s) where your child won’t be joining the buddy.

Avoid danger zones. Tell your children be aware of “hot spots” (e.g. cross walks, school parking lots, intersections, bus zones) and explain how to handle dangerous blind spots.

Wear bike safety equipment. Children who bike to school should wear helmets, light-colored clothing and reflective devices.

Don’t text while walking or bicycling. Don't talk on your phone or send text messages while you are walking or riding a bicycle. It is distracting and doesn’t allow the child to pay attention to their surroundings.