WESTPORT – School begins next Tuesday. To promote safety and awareness, the Westport Police Department has already begun and will continue to target traffic violators in school zones  with its annual “Back to School” enforcement and education campaign. Officers will be observing traffic for distracted drivers and speeding in school zones as well as monitoring bus stops and routes, citing those that disregard school bus signals.

The Westport Police Department is committed to protecting children from motorists who disregard traffic safety laws, especially around school zones and bus stops where students congregate. We urge commuters to allow extra time to reach their destinations, as they will again be sharing the roads with school buses making frequent stops, as well as children who will be walking and/or biking to school.

The department stresses that motorists need to be especially vigilant around school zones, bus stops and school buses. Obey the school bus laws of Connecticut, which include slowing down and preparing to stop for yellow flashing school bus lights and stopping for red flashing school bus lights–on both sides of the roadway.

A list of suggestions for drivers, students and parents is below. 

Parents are encouraged to discuss these safety tips with their children as well as with young or inexperienced drivers in their home.

Drivers:

• When driving in neighborhoods with school zones or backing into a roadway, watch out for
• young people who may be distracted.
• Slow down. Watch out for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks
• in the neighborhood.
• Be alert! Children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic.
• Learn and obey Connecticut’s school bus laws.
• Learn the “flashing signal light system” used by school bus drivers to alert motorists of
• pending actions:
• Yellow flashing lights indicate that the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicles.
• Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate that the bus has stopped, and that
• children are getting on or off. Motorists on both sides of the roadway must stop their cars and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop sign is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before they can start driving again.

Children:

• Get to the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
• When the bus approaches, stand at least six feet away from the curb, and line up away from
• the street.
• Wait until the bus stops, the door opens, and the driver signals it is okay before stepping onto
• the bus.
• If you must cross the street in front of the bus, walk on the sidewalk or along the side of the
• road to a point at least ten feet ahead of the bus before you cross. Be sure that the bus driver
• can see you, and you can see the bus driver.
• Use the handrails to avoid falls. When exiting the bus, be careful that clothing with drawstrings and book bags with straps are not caught in the handrails or doors.
• Never walk behind the bus.
• Walk at least six feet away from the side of the bus.
• If you drop something near the bus, tell the driver before attempting to retrieve it, since the
• driver may not clearly see you.
• Please follow instructions given by our school crossing guards. Do not begin to cross until they have stopped traffic completely and have advised it is safe to cross.

Again, as students return to school, the Westport Police Department reminds drivers that getting there safely is everyone’s responsibility. Slow down, stay alert, and be especially mindful of children walking or biking to school, school buses, crossing guards, and increased pedestrian traffic on our roadways. 

A few extra seconds of patience can make the difference between a safe arrival and a tragedy.