August 2021: Driving Safely with School Back in Session

Driving Safely

 

Drive Safely; School Starts Monday, August 10, 201

School days bring congestion: It is never more essential for drivers to slow down and pay attention than when kids are present, especially before and after school. School buses are picking up and dropping off their passengers, kids walk and ride bicycles to and from school. 

Walkers

Review your family's walking safety rules and practice walking to school with your child. 

  • Walk on the sidewalk, if one is available; when on the street with no sidewalk, walk facing the traffic 
  • Before you cross the street, stop and look left, right, and left again to see if cars are coming
  • Make eye contact with drivers before crossing and always cross roads at crosswalks or intersections
  • Stay alert and avoid distracted walking

Bike Riders 

Teach your child the rules of the road and practice riding the bike route to school with your child. 

  • Ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, in a 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 wear a properly fitted helmet and bright clothing 

Bus Riders 

Teach your children school bus safety rules and practice with them 

  • 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 6 feet (or three giant steps) away from the curb 
  • If your child must cross the street in front of the bus, teach them 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 
  • Get the facts on bus safety from Injury Facts 

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 
  • Never pass a bus loading or unloading children 
  • The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them to enter and exit the bus safely

Teen Drivers

Car crashes are the number one cause of death for teens. Fortunately, there is something we can do. 

  • Teens crash because they are inexperienced; practice with new drivers every week, before and after they get their license 
  • Set a good example; drive the way you want your teen to drive 
  • Sign the New Driver Deal, an agreement that helps define expectations for parents and teens 

For more information on driving safely with back to school approaching please go to https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/seasonal-safety/back-to-school 

 

Citizen's Police Academy 

The Winter Springs Police Department will be holding a Citizen’s Police Academy from October 5, 2021, to December 14, 2021. The academy will be held on Tuesday nights from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Winter Springs Police Department, 300 N. Moss Road. During the academy, attendees will be given a brief overview of topics ranging from K-9 Operations to Code Enforcement, taught by WSPD Officers who focus on each topic in their daily roles.

The Citizen’s Police Academy is limited to 20 people.  If interested, complete the application which can be downloaded here, or picked up at the Winter Springs Police Department. Once completed, return it to the Winter Springs Police Department with a photo ID to begin the process. A background check will be completed and the applicants will be notified confirming their acceptance.

The application deadline is September 3, 2021, at 5:00 pm.

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