By Leader Staff
The Shawano School District will begin the 2014-15 school year Tuesday, and Shawano police want to remind drivers — as well as students and their families — to be cautious on the roads.
“We’ll see an increase in children on bicycles, walking and school bus traffic in the coming days,” Shawano Police Chief Mark Kohl said.
Kohl warned drivers to obey the school zone speed limits and school crossings to safeguard the children.
Kohl said there would be more police patrols in the school zones to remind motorists schools are open and to drive safely.
The Police Department provided the following tips from AAA of Wisconsin for safe vehicle operation and a few tips for students and their families:
• Slow down. Speed limits in school zones are reduced for a reason. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25 mph is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling just 10 mph faster.
• Come to a complete stop. Research shows that more than one-third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods. Always come to a complete stop, checking carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding.
• Eliminate distractions. Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of crashing. Children can be quick, crossing the road unexpectedly or emerging suddenly between two parked cars. Reduce risk by not using your cell phone or eating while driving, for example.
• Reverse responsibly. Every vehicle has blind spots. Check for children on the sidewalk, in the driveway and around your vehicle before slowly backing up. Teach your children to never play in, under or around vehicles.
• 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 a bicyclist. If your child rides a bicycle to school, require that he or she wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet on every ride.
• Talk to your teen. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States, and nearly one in four fatal crashes involving teen drivers occur during the after-school hours of 3-7 p.m.