Seattle public school students went back to in-person learning on Wednesday, September 1st, 2021. In order to help minimize the accident risks associated with the heavy back-to-school traffic, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is reminding local drivers that they should be mindful of children in school zones.
Working with law enforcement to manage safety cameras present in school zones all across the city, officials are telling drivers to keep up with the speed limit, obey the road signs, and be mindful of children crossing the road and going in and out of school buses.
Seattle’s Safe Routes To School Project Help To Prevent Car, Pedestrian Accidents
During the pandemic, SDOT completed 29 Safe Routes to School projects across the city, installing new walk signs and raising walkways in order to make it safer for kids to get to school. The agency also provides all high school students with free Orca cards and encourages them to use public transportation whenever possible.
Despite these efforts, SDOT officials still worry that many drivers won’t put the safety of children first.
Seattle Officials To Parents: Teach Your Children These Safety Tips To Avoid Accidents
While it is important to keep reminding drivers to pay close attention to the traffic and road signs as kids go back to school, parents should also be teaching their children to be safe while exiting vehicles, entering, and leaving school.
Students of all ages should learn they must look both ways at crosswalks before crossing the road. They should also be able to recognize and obey traffic signals, signs, and markings on the pavement.
If taking the school bus, teach your child to stay out of the street as they wait for the bus to arrive, and remind them to allow the bus to come to a complete stop before getting on or off.
For more on what Seattle officials are doing to prevent pedestrian accidents near school zones, follow this link.
