Groveland, Merrimac & West Newbury Police and Fire Departments Offer Back to School Safety Tips

WEST NEWBURY — With the start of the school year underway, the police and fire departments that serve the Pentucket Regional School District communities would like to offer students, parents and motorists several important safety tips ahead of students returning to school.

Students returned to school Monday, Aug 30.

Groveland, Merrimac, and West Newbury Police and Fire would like to share the following tips that should help facilitate a safe start to the school year, from the National Safety Council (NSC).

Walking to school:

Walk on the sidewalk, if one is available; when on a street with no sidewalk, walk facing the traffic
Before crossing the street, stop and look left, right and left again to see if cars are coming
Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street and always cross streets at crosswalks or intersections
Stay alert and avoid distracted walking. Never walk while texting. If you need to respond to a text, move out of the way of others and stop on the sidewalk. Never cross the street while using an electronic device. Do not wear earbuds while walking across the street.

Riding a bike to school:

Ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, and in single file
Come to a complete stop before crossing the street; walk bikes across the street
Stay alert and avoid distracted riding
Make sure your child always wears a properly fitted helmet and bright clothing
Helmets appropriate for bicycling should be worn by everyone – adults and children – on every bike ride regardless of length of the ride.

Riding the bus to school:

Go to the bus stop with your child to teach them the proper way to get on and off the bus
Teach your children to stand six feet (or three giant steps) away from the curb
If your child must cross the street in front of the bus, teach him or her to walk on the side of the road until they are 10 feet ahead of the bus; your child and the bus driver should always be able to see each other

Driving your child to school:

Stay alert and avoid distracted driving
Obey school zone speed limits and follow your school’s drop-off procedure
Make eye contact with children who are crossing the street

Safety Tips for Motorists

It is important that motorists be alert while driving, especially in school zones and residential neighborhoods. Children can be unpredictable and may ignore hazards and take risks. The NSC provides the following tips for motorists:

Don’t block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light or waiting to make a turn, forcing pedestrians to go around you; this could put them in the path of moving traffic
In a school zone when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection. Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard holding up a stop sign
Take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas
Don’t honk or rev your engine to scare a pedestrian, even if you have the right of way
Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians
If you’re driving behind a bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car
Never pass a bus from behind – or from either direction if you’re on an undivided road – if it is stopped to load or unload children. It is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children
If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop
The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus
When passing a bicyclist, proceed in the same direction slowly, and leave 3 feet between your car and the cyclist
The most common cause of collision is a driver turning left in front of a bicyclist. Watch for bike riders turning in front of you without looking or signaling; children especially have a tendency to do this
Watch for bikes coming from driveways or behind parked cars