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Schools

Drivers Beware: School's About to Start

Giving your kids a safety checklist before hitting the pavement could keep them safe.

It's that time of year again, where the lunch boxes are packed, backpacks are filled and school-aged kids are ready to hit the Cupertino sidewalks on their walk to school.

But drivers and pedestrians alike should beware, as it’s a shared responsibility to keep roadways safe whether you’re on foot or behind the wheel.

South Bay law enforcement agencies will be taking a proactive approach, with plans to be out in force to ensure a safe journey to school for all students.

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“We’ll have our traffic units near all schools and routes to school, especially with major intersections,” said Sgt. Troy Smith, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office spokesman.

“Basically we’re looking to make everything run smoothly and we’re out there to warn or cite drivers who aren’t abiding by traffic laws.”

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Cupertino contracts traffic patrol through the Sheriff’s Office, and Smith says that additional coverage, especially at Cupertino schools during drop off and pick up, helps identify any problematic areas, which will be mitigated immediately.

“We work closely with the Cupertino schools and we also get a lot of information from the crossing guards, so we’re able to nip problems in the bud immediately,” said Smith. “Our traffic units are there to reduce the impacts.”

And fortunately, Smith says, the schools do their part to make the trek to and from school safe as well, by continuing the flow of information to parents and communicating with police and city-hired and trained crossing guards.

Failing to adhere to school zone speed limits of 25 miles per hour, blocking roadways and driveways, making illegal U-turns and failure to obey traffic signs could land you with a hefty ticket or worst, an injured child, officials warn.

According to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration, in 2009, an estimated 59,000 pedestrians were injured; 13,000 of those injured were age 14 and younger, and boys accounted for 55 percent, or 7,000 of those 13,000 hurt.

The NHTSA finds that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children from 3 to 14 years old.

Drivers should pay attention when driving on all roads, but more than ever with city streets flooded with young walkers. Morning drive times between 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. are especially significant, as well as the afterschool times of 2:30 p.m. through dusk.

And more than ever, drivers should avoid being distracted from the act of driving, Smith says.

“Be cognizant and vigilant and take extra time when crossing intersections and follow traffic signs,” said Smith. “Pay attention and do not get distracted by cell phones or texts, keep your eyes on the road.”

Parents should also talk with their children before ushering them out the door. Officials warn that elementary school children are impulsive and still need guidance and supervision when playing and walking near traffic.

Kids can’t estimate speed, and are just learning to read in many cases, so its imperative that parents take the time to talk with their children about the rules of the road and of sidewalks too.

Here are a few tips the NHTSA advises that parents share with their kids:

When walking:

  • Walk on the sidewalk, if one is available.
  • Walk facing traffic if no sidewalk is available.
  • Don’t assume vehicles will stop. Make eye contact with drivers.
  • Don’t rely solely on pedestrian signals, look before you cross the road.
  • Be sure to let a crossing guard know that you are waiting to cross the street.

When crossing the street:

  • Cross at a corner or crosswalk with the walk signal.
  • Stop at the curb.
  • Exaggerate looking LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT for traffic in all directions before and while crossing the street. Explain to the child that they are looking for either no traffic or that traffic has stopped for you to cross safely.
  • Hold your child’s hand when crossing the street.
  • Cross when it is clear but keep looking for cars as you cross.
  • Walk, don’t run or dart, into the street.
  • Look for signs that a car is about to move (rear lights, exhaust smoke, sound of motor, wheels turning).
  • Walk alertly; use your eyes and your ears to increase your safety.
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