Osseo Prioritizes Back-to-School Safety
As children gear up to return to school, the concern for their safety takes center stage.
That’s why the Osseo Police Department is urging residents to exercise heightened vigilance while traveling through the city.
Osseo Police Lieutenant Todd Kintzi highlighted the surge in vehicle and pedestrian traffic that always comes with the influx of students walking to school and parents dropping their kids off.
“The first few days of school around here are very hectic, there’s a lot of extra vehicle traffic, a lot more foot traffic from kids walking to school and parents trying to drop their kids off,” explained Kintzi.
A Call for Vigilance from Police Department
Kintzi emphasized the importance of stopping for a school bus that displays flashing red lights and a fully extended crossing arm.
“Just be aware of buses and when the stop arms are out, make sure you stop for the red flashing lights on school buses. It’s a crime to cut through, and if we get a notification from the bus company that they observed a violation, they can send us a report. Then we can mail a ticket to the violator if we can identify them,” said Kintzi.
Kintzi adds that ensuring safety extends to the students as well. Kids waiting for the school bus should stay on the curb or sidewalk.
Safety officials urge drivers to watch out for school buses and students.
Students who walk to school should always use the crosswalks when crossing the street, particularly on busy Central Avenue.
“Every street near the school does have a sidewalk, so if you’re a walker, I think it’s important to stay on the sidewalks. Even if you’re dropping your kid off near the school, it’s pretty safe because we have sidewalks,” stated Kintzi.
The overarching plea from Kintzi is for patience and proactive planning.
“Allow yourself extra time just because of the increased amount of foot traffic and vehicle traffic around here, especially in the first couple of days when everybody is trying to learn their routes and get into their routines. It becomes very congested around here, and it can be very dangerous if you’re not paying attention,” Kintzi said.
