The Austin Police Department recently released a list of safety tips that coincide with local children preparing to head back to school to start a new academic year. The list of tips are designed to keep not just children safe, but parents as well.
The APD has also announced that from August 20th until August 31st, they will be conducting a Back-to-School Traffic Safety Initiative, which is designed to be the first of many that will take place throughout the entirety of the school year.
In the meantime, officers will be keeping a close eye out in Austin’s school zones for any drivers that commit the following violations:
*Using cell phones or other devices while driving (hands-free devices are exempted)
*Speeding
*Disregarding crossing guards
*Failing to yield to crosswalk pedestrians
*Passing school buses whether they are loading or unloading children
*Aggressive driving/following too closely
The APD is also reminding drivers to make note of the following tips:
*Give yourself extra time either when you leave for work in the morning or come home in the afternoon due to the increase of both vehicles and pedestrians during the school year.
*Always wear your seat belt.
*Don’t use any electronic devices.
*Slow down.
*Be courteous to other drivers.
Pedestrians are also being urged to make note of the following:
*If a crossing guard is available, always follow their instructions.
*Cross the street at intersections, making sure that you look both ways before walking.
*When coming from behind a parked car or off of a bus, watch for any oncoming traffic.
*Always enter or exit a car from the curb side of the street.
*Before crossing the street, make eye contact with drivers.
*Walk alongside children to show them the correct way to cross the street.
And for bicyclists:
*Always wear a helmet and other proper safety gear.
*Use a backpack to help you carry your books and other items.
*Learn the different hand signals and use them.
*Obey all traffic laws and keep an eye out for traffic.
And last, but certainly not least, here are some useful tips to help protect children from strangers:
*Take the time to talk to your children about both “stranger danger” and personal safety.
*Make sure that your children know to watch out for strangers who are in cars, as well as anyone who follows them in a car or yells at them.
*No child should ever get into a car with a stranger or even approach one.
*Children should never accept gifts or candy from a stranger.
*A child should always run quickly and get an adult if they find that a stranger is following them either in a car or on foot.
*If a stranger talks to a child, they should never respond.
*Never walk anywhere alone.
*If a child is grabbed by a stranger, they should attract the attention of others by doing whatever they can to get them to stop, such as yelling, biting, kicking, as well as screaming that the person grabbing them is not their parent.
Thank you for visiting the Gabriella Young blog, an Austin criminal defense lawyer. We write to inform locals about law changes, events and news.