Norfolk & Wrentham October 2022

October 2022 Find us on Facebook | Norfolk & Wrentham Town News Page 13
Back-to-School Roadway Safety Tips for Students and Motorists
Walking to School
• Walk on the sidewalk whenever
possible. When on a
street with no sidewalk,
walk facing 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 in the same direction
as traffic, and in single file.
• Come to a complete stop
before crossing the street
and walk bikes across the
street.
• Stay alert and avoid distracted
riding.
• Always wear a properly fitted
helmet and bright-colored
clothing.
• Helmets appropriate for bicycling
should be worn by
everyone – adults and children
– on every bike ride
regardless of the 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 6 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.
Safety Tips for Motorists
• It is important that motorists
be alert while driving,
especially in school zones,
near playgrounds and parks,
and in residential areas.
• Stay alert and avoid distracted
driving.
• 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.
• 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. If the yellow or
red lights are flashing and
the stop arm is extended,
traffic must stop. It is illegal
in all 50 states to pass a
school bus that is stopped to
load or unload children.
• 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.
• Drivers who are dropping
students off at school should
obey school zone speed limits
and follow the school’s
drop-off procedures.
• Don’t block the crosswalk
when stopped at a red light
or while waiting to make a
turn. This forces pedestrians
to go around you, which
could put them in the path
of moving traffic.
• Make eye contact with pedestrians
who are crossing
the street.
• 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.
• When passing a bicyclist,
proceed in the same direction
slowly, and leave 3 feet
between your car and the
cyclist.
• A common cause of a 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.
Teen Drivers
• According to the Centers
for Disease Control and
Prevention, in 2019, over
40% of U.S. high school
students did not always
wear a seat belt when riding
in a car driven by someone
else. Ensure your teen understands
that every person
in a vehicle should be buckled
up, no matter where
they are sitting or how long
the trip.
• Teens often crash because
they are inexperienced.
Have regular conversations
with your teen about safe
driving practices and laws
to ensure they understand
the rules of the road.
• Set a good example by driving
the way you want your
teen to drive.
Norfolk Quill Offers Upcoming Workshop
The Norfolk Quill will offer a five-week writers
workshop beginning Tuesday, October 4 from
5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Schoolhouse Room of the
Norfolk Public Library.
For more information and to register, email
norfolkquill@gmail.com.
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