Full Notification

For Immediate Release
August 20, 2018
 
Contacts: Sergeant Scott Combs, Traffic Sergeant,
                   (310) 802-5166
                  Sergeant Tim Zins, PIO,
                   (310) 802-5186                                       

Date of Event:  Wednesday, August 22, 2018
 
Subject:  Back to School Safety Tips              
 
Location:   Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
                                               
Parents and Caretakers are encouraged to use caution around schools

August is Back to School Safety Month
 
As the summer vacation comes to an end and children get ready to head back to school, the Manhattan Beach Police Department is joining the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and local school districts to remind parents and caretakers to exercise caution around schools.
 
It is a busy time for several families who are handling back-to-school preparations, but it should not overtake the importance of ensuring the upcoming school year is safe for everyone. August is Back to School Safety month and the Manhattan Beach Police Department urges parents, caretakers and the community to remember these important safety tips to kick off the new school year:
 
Parents

• Plan your route ahead of time.
• Always keep an eye out for children, especially during pick-up and drop-off times.
• Avoid distractions such as texting, talking on the phone, grooming or eating while driving.
• If your child is biking or walking to school, map out the safest route such as safety spots to ask for help, best places to cross, and the most direct path to get to school. Teach them about traffic signals and signs, urge them to not wear earbuds and to stop and look both ways before using crosswalks.
• If your child takes the bus, remind them to line up five steps away from the curb and to always look for cars before getting on or off the bus.
• Always buckle up. Practicing proper seat belt safety instills good habits that protect yourself and those you love.
• Look for school buses and know what to do when around them. Overhead flashing yellow lights mean you should prepare to stop, flashing yellow lights means drive with caution and overhead lights flashing red means stop.

 
Everyone

• Always use the crosswalk at an intersection with a stop light or stop sign.
• Turn down the volume on your earbuds and don’t text while walking.
• Stop and look for oncoming traffic before crossing.
• Obey all traffic laws, including following the posted speed limit, which is usually 25 MPH in school zones but may be as low as 15 MPH.  

 
No matter how children go to school, it is important that everyone pays attention, looks out for one another and takes these necessary safety precautions.