MIDDLETOWN – As more than 1.5 million students return to school in New Jersey, the township police department and AAA Mid-Atlantic remind motorists to slow down and watch out for school-age pedestrians.
“Children get caught up in the excitement of back-to-school season and forget to look out for cars,” said Pam Maiolo, public affairs manager of AAA Mid-Atlantic, in a press release. “Many youngsters have trouble making accurate judgments about traffic speed and distance, so drivers have to be particularly aware.”
One-fifth of all children 14 years of age and younger who die in motor vehicle crashes are pedestrians, according to the National Highway Traffic Society Administration. These pedestrian fatalities are more likely to happen in the afternoon hours, when school is letting out.
AAA’s School’s Open – Drive Carefully campaign encourages motorists to stay alert in areas where children are present, paying special attention during the morning and afternoon hours while children are coming to and from school. Drivers should look out for children who may dart out into the street near school zones, playgrounds, bus stops and in neighborhoods. School-age children can be especially vulnerable in areas with heavy traffic volume, parked vehicles on the streets, higher posted speed limits and few pedestrian-control devices.
As part of the School’s Open – Drive Carefully campaign, AAA Mid-Atlantic offers drivers tips to keep schoolchildren safe:
+ Studies should that more than one-third of motorists in school zones or neighborhoods just “roll through” intersections with a stop sign. Slow down in or near school and residential areas, and be sure to come to a complete stop in all intersections.
+ Drive with your headlights on – even during the day – so children and other drivers can see you.
+ Look for clues such as AAA School Safety Patrol members, crossing guards, bicycles and playgrounds, which indicate children in the area.
+ Scan between parked cars and other objects from which children could dart into the road.
+ Pay particular attention near schools during the morning and afternoon hours.
+ Always stop for school buses that are loading and unloading students.
As the new school year begins, police officers will be very visible in enforcing the motor vehicle laws, especially those pertaining to pedestrians and school zone safety, said Middletown Police Chief Robert Oches.