This is an interactive blog provided by the Woodland Police Department. The blog is aimed at educating the public about laws associated to driving, driver education, and pedestrian safety.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Back To School Refresher

Woodland Police Department Traffic Division, August 10, 2010

As students head back to school, the Woodland Police Department reminds motorists to slow down and watch out for school-age pedestrians.
Children get caught up in the excitement of 'back-to-school' season and forget to look out for cars, and many children have difficulty judging a car's speed or distance. This puts them at greater danger as pedestrians.

The Woodland Police Department’s T.E.A.C.H. (Traffic Enforcement Assuring Children’s Health) campaign encourages motorists to stay alert in areas where children are present, paying special attention during the morning and afternoon hours while children are going to and from school. Children's peripheral vision is one-third narrower than an adult's. This makes it more difficult for them to see a vehicle approaching from the side. School-age children can be especially vulnerable in areas with heavy traffic volume, parked vehicles on the street, higher posted speed limits, and fewer traffic-control devices. Drivers should look out for children who may dart into the street near school zones, playgrounds, bus stops, and in neighborhoods.

Tips for Drivers:

• Slow down in or near school and residential areas.
• Drive with headlights on- even during the day- so children and other drivers can see you.
• Watch out for pedestrians, crossing guards, bicycles and playgrounds.
• Scan between parked cars and other objects for signs that children could dart into the road.
• Practice extra caution in adverse weather conditions.
• Pay particular attention near schools during the morning and afternoon hours.
• Always stop for school buses that are loading and unloading students.

Tips for Parents:

• Show children how to use the crosswalks.
• Teach children to stop, listen and look for approaching and turning vehicles.
• Introduce the concept of looking left-right-left before crossing any streets.
• Teach children the meaning of traffic signals and signs along the route.
• Find the safest route to school and walk the route with your child.

Child pedestrian injuries occur more often in residential areas and on local neighborhood streets, so drivers should always be aware of their surroundings, especially in these areas.
You can find particular enforceable traffic violation sections below, which the Woodland Police Department Traffic Unit utilizes a zero tolerance stance to enforce. This type of proactive law enforcement helps to keep the community’s children safe and educates drivers so that they are well informed and ultimately better prepared to travel within school specific traffic corridors.
PARKING

No parking areas are marked with signs or red curbs. A vehicle is parked once it stops, whether occupied or not. Stopping along a red curb or where no parking signs are posted to drop a student off is a violation of the law. Double parking is also illegal.

PASSENGER LOADING ZONES

Passenger loading zones are marked with white curbs or signs indicating such. The driver of the vehicle must remain with the vehicle. Walking a child into school and leaving a vehicle in a loading zone is a violation of the loading zone law.

CROSSWALKS

Stopping in crosswalks, marked or unmarked to drop students is unlawful. Unmarked crosswalks are generally located in residential areas at intersections. Every intersection technically has a crosswalk, even if it is not marked. It is unlawful and dangerous to pass a vehicle which is stopped at a crosswalk to allow pedestrians to cross.

BICYCLES

All individuals under the age of 18 are required to wear bicycle helmets while riding a bicycle, skateboard, scooter, or rollerblades. Bicyclists are required to follow the same rules of the road as motor vehicles. Bicycle lanes are intended for bicycle traffic. Motor vehicles are allowed to drive in a bicycle lane when parking, pulling away from the curb, or the last 200 feet of the approach to a right turn. Also be aware it is unlawful to park within 7.5 feet of a fire hydrant if the vehicle is not occupied by a licensed driver in the front seat who can immediately move the vehicle in case of an emergency.

SPEEDING

The 25 MPH school zones need to be obeyed.

SCHOOL BUSSES

Motorists should stop when red lights are flashing on a stopped school bus. Flashing red lights mean that children will be exiting the bus and for their safety the law requires all motorists to stop until the red lights stop flashing. The purpose of flashing red lights and stop signs on school buses is to load and unload school children. When the

signals and lights are displayed, vehicles should come to an immediate stop before passing the school bus and should not pass the school bus until the flashing red light signal and stop signal arm cease operation. Unless there is a concrete island separating opposing traffic, motorists should also stop when traveling in the opposite direction.

CROSSING GUARDS

Last year was a tough year for these part time employees due to rude/ unsafe drivers and I wanted to add a few word in this flyer about them and the thankless job they have. No matter where they do it, a crossing guard’s job is the same: bring traffic to a halt to safely see kids across the street in school zones. It shouldn't be tough to understand, it shouldn't be tough to respect and it surely shouldn't be dangerous.

Apparently, it is increasingly becoming all of those things. Drivers are honking, swearing, revving their engines, throwing things and even hitting them. No wonder districts everywhere are having difficulty signing up help. Children dawdle. They don't do it to make you angry, they do it because their legs are shorter, their backpacks are heavier, and, well, if they're teens, maybe they are doing it to make you angry. They'll grow up.

Children don't look where they're going. They look for bugs. They look for shapes in the clouds. They look at each other. They have placed all their faith in that wonderful person who is standing in the rain to make sure they get safely to school. Reward that faith. Children dart. If they drop something, they run back to get it. Crossing guards know this; that's why they keep their sign up until the kids are all the way to the other side. Don't race to beat the stop, don't inch up, and don't distract the guards from keeping their attention on the children. Children trust. They trust that if they stay within those lines on the road, they will be safe.

Whenever you see a paddle stop sign and an orange safety vest with the proper school insignia we need to respect what they stand for. Additionally the California Vehicle Code states, “2815 CVVC: Stop for Crossing Guard stop sign: Requires vehicles to stop and remain stopped for the Crossing Guard stop sign while the Crossing Guard is crossing students and until the Crossing Guard returns to a place of safety (the sidewalk. Remember to treat the Crossing Guard stop sign like a construction stop sign). It also requires motorists and pedestrians to obey the directions of the Crossing Guard. (Wait on the sidewalk until pedestrians are told it is safe to cross. Cars to wait when directed by the Crossing Guard until told it is okay to go)”. Remember being a kid; remember the freedom of warm weather; remember how many times you avoided some terrible event because somebody else was looking out for you.

Remember to thank the men and women who look out for our kids.

Thank you,
Sgt Steve Guthrie
Woodland Police Department
Traffic Unit