New Hope Police Remind Everyone About Back To School Driving Safety
It’s back to school time, and New Hope police want to remind everyone to stay aware and keep everyone safe on the roads around the city’s schools.
Officers remind you to heed school zones and watch for speed limit changes.
“There’s going to be school buses, there’s going to be heavier traffic, there’s going to be a lot more children walking to school, biking to school,” said New Hope Police Community Engagement Officer Lee Larson. “It’s good to stay alert. You’re going to have so many more kids out, so many more cars out. Our state is a hands-free state, no using your cell phone, no distractions in your vehicle. Everything is going to take more time, plan on that.”
Officers remind drivers that any time a school bus’s yellow lights are blinking, they should be slowing down as the bus is coming to a stop. Once it’s stopped and the red lights are blinking and the stop arm is out, drivers should stop 30 feet behind or 30 feet in front of the bus (coming the opposite direction). If the road has a divider, you do not have to stop on the opposite side.
“In school zones, the speed will decrease. There will be posted signs saying what that speed is,” said Officer Larson. “Also, you want to obey any traffic and crosswalk guards. They’ll be fully visible in their vests, so you have to obey what they tell you as well.”
Officer Larson reminded everyone to stay vigilant for anything that looks suspicious or any behavior that could put others in danger.
“If you see unsafe driving, you think the police should be notified about, call us immediately, because the sooner we know about it, the sooner we can handle it,” she said.
