Back to school safety reminder

Students in the Desert Sands Unified School District will return to school Wednesday and authorities are reminding everyone to use extra caution on the roads.

The Palm Desert Police Department is reminding adults to be careful in school zones.

Extra patrols will be on the the road.

Palm Desert Police issued a number of safety tips for the school year ahead.

Walking:

-Before the school year starts, take practice walks so that both parents and children know the safest routes.
-Always cross at an intersection or crosswalk, if available. Remember to look both ways before crossing.
-When no cars are coming, walk – do not run – across the road, and keep looking for cars while crossing.
-At intersections with traffic lights, watch for turning cars and obey all traffic signals.
-Always walk on the sidewalk if there is one available. If there is not a sidewalk, be sure to walk facing traffic so you can see what’s coming.
-Do not run between parked cars and buses.
-Do not run across the street or through a parking lot.
-No cell phone talking or texting while going to or from school. Watch what’s going on around you.

Bicycling:

-Before the school year starts, take practice rides so that both parents and children know the safest routes.
-Always wear a properly fitted helmet.
-Always ride on the right side of the road. Never ride against traffic.
-When riding in groups, always ride single file, not side by side.
-Watch out for dangers in the roadway.
-Stop at all stop signs and at all traffic lights. Be extra careful at crossroads.
-Watch out when riding next to parked cars. Drivers may not see you and can quickly open doors or pull into the street.
-Listen for cars approaching from the side or behind you. Never wear headphones.
-Know your road signs and obey them.
-Always be prepared to stop.
-No cell phone talking or texting while riding. Watch what’s going on around you.

Riding a School Bus:

-If your child rides a school bus, make sure that he or she knows to remain seated at all times, to keep the aisles clear, not to throw objects, not to shout or distract the driver, and to keep his or her hands and arms inside of the bus.
-When a school bus stops to load or unload passengers and its red lights are flashing, all vehicles must stop – in both directions. If the bus stop is on a divided highway, then only those vehicles approaching from the rear must stop.

Drivers:

-Follow all traffic laws and take safety precautions, especially when driving in areas where children may be present. The maximum speed limit in school zones is 25 MPH when children are near the road.
-In school drop off and pick up zones, be extra alert and drive slowly. Watch for your children and all the other children too.
-Do your eating and grooming before leaving home with the children. Keep your cell phone turned off until you reach work.
-Children must be secured in the back seat in an appropriate car seat or booster seat if they are under the age of eight or are less than 4’9″ tall.

Teen Drivers:

-Your high school driving years are the most dangerous. Be aware and cautious.
-Don’t be distracted by cell phones, friends, or too much fun in the car.
-Use your seat belts every day, every trip.
-Take it easy. It takes a couple of years before you really know how to drive in all circumstances.