August 5
August 5, 2008
Sarah Maria Domangue
August 7, 2008
BATON ROUGE – With many schools across Louisiana opening this month, the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is reminding drivers to take special safety precautions as child pedestrians, school zone speed limits and school buses reintroduce themselves to morning and afternoon traffic.
Schools are opening their doors all across the state, which means you’ll see children walking, school buses making frequent stops, and more cars on the road as parents drive children to and from school, said Lt. Col. John LeBlanc, executive director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. It’s important that motorists understand and obey traffic laws to make school days safer for children and adults alike.
Many children across the state travel to and from school via school buses, which make frequent stops to pick up and drop off students. Motorists are required to stop at least 30 feet away from a school bus that has stopped to load or unload children. Stopping is required by law whether you are meeting the bus from the opposite direction or traveling behind it. However, motorists are not required to stop when a school bus is stopped in opposite lanes on a roadway separated by a ditch, grassy median, elevated concrete barrier or any obstacle that prevents traffic from driving thereon.
A bus that has stopped to unload or pick up students will extend its stop arm and activate its flashing red lights, LeBlanc said. Failing to yield when a bus extends its stop arm not only endangers the lives of children exiting the bus, but can result in costly fines.
Drivers must take other safety precautions during the school year, such as slowing down and obeying the posted speed limit in school zones. All motorists should also be alert and watch for students, who may dart into the street without looking.
Additionally, carpool drivers are responsible for making sure all children are in their age-appropriate seats and that all restraints and seat belts are correctly fastened. Children who have outgrown safety or booster seats should be seated in the rear seats of the vehicle with seat belts properly fastened. Louisiana law requires all children ages 13 and under to be restrained in an appropriate child safety seat.
The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission also recommends parents and guardians keep their children safe by teaching them these good habits:
When waiting for the school bus, line up away from the street as the bus approaches.
After entering the bus, find a seat and remain seated until the bus comes to a complete stop.
When exiting the bus, always stop at the curb and wait for a signal from the bus driver before crossing the street.
Children who walk or ride bicycles to school should be taught to look left, right and left again before crossing the street, to cross only at designated crossings, and to never dart out into traffic or enter the road from between parked cars. Young cyclists should always wear helmets, which are required by law for riders ages 12 and under.
