Watch Out For Children Rejoining Rush Hour Traffic After Labor Day

As a new school year begins, students will be joining the rush, on foot, by bus and in cars – especially the morning rush hour. It’s important for motorists, parents and children to dust off their back-to-school traffic safety routines.

(SALEM) - As a new school year begins, students will be joining the rush, on foot, by bus and in cars – especially the morning rush hour. It’s important for motorists, parents and children to dust off their back-to-school traffic safety routines.

Motorists in particular need to watch out for the safety of children on foot and bicycle, to slow down to 20 mph in school zones and to yield to crossing guards – as well as pedestrians of any age crossing the street. Drivers may notice differences in school zones this fall. Some signs have changed under House Bill 2840 from the 2005 Legislature. Oregon law now requires drivers to slow to 20 mph in school zones when yellow lights are flashing, during the hours that signs indicate or, if no specific hours are posted, from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM on days when school is in session.

“If a school zone has neither flashing lights nor posted hours for the 20 mph speed, drivers need only remember to slow down in those zones from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM on school days,” said Julie Yip, Safe Routes to School Coordinator for the Oregon Department of Transportation’s Safety Division. “And if there’s a crossing guard on duty, that’s a clear sign to slow to 20 mph in that zone, and to stop when the guard raises the crossing flag for children to cross the street.” “Slowing down anytime children are near the street or at a crosswalk can prevent a tragedy,” Yip said. “The extra reaction time as a result of driving 20 instead of 25 is enough to prevent an injury to a child.” ODOT provided funding for 43 flashing yellow light systems in school zones located on Oregon highways administered by the department at a cost of about $600,000. Those do not include any changes or school-zone safety enhancements that cities or counties may make. The following back-to-school safety tips for drivers, parents and students are Oregon law:

Drivers: 1. Follow the posted speed limit, and slow to 20 mph when required in school zones. 2. Yield to pedestrians crossing the street. Stop and remain stopped until the pedestrian has crossed not only your lane but also the adjacent lane. At traffic lights where the driver is turning, the motorist may proceed after a pedestrian is six feet into the next lane. 3. Never pass a vehicle that has stopped at a crosswalk. It may be waiting for a pedestrian to cross. 4. In a school zone crosswalk with a crossing guard, wait until the guard has left the roadway. 5. Under Oregon law, a crosswalk exists at any intersection, even if unmarked, unless signs indicate that the crosswalk is closed.

6. When making a turn, look both left and right and in mirrors to make sure a pedestrian or bicyclist is not traveling alongside you into the path of your turn. 7. Do not pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing, even if it is on the other side of the street. The only exception is when the bus is on the other side of a physical barrier or median running between opposing lanes of traffic. 8. Use extra care in areas where children may enter the roadway from between parked vehicles or other things that block drivers’ view of the side of the road.

Parents and children: 1. If possible, choose less busy streets to walk or bike to school. 2. Cross the street only at crosswalks, not between intersections, and never run into the street from between parked cars or other obstacles that block drivers’ view. 3. Before crossing a street, wait for a walk signal or green light, or for a crossing guard to tell you that it is okay to cross, and for vehicles to stop. 4. Look left, right, left and over your shoulder for traffic before crossing a street, and continue to check each direction as you cross. 5. Make eye contact with drivers to make sure they see you. 6. Wear light-colored clothing or place reflectors on backpacks to improve visibility to drivers. 7. If riding a bicycle, scooter or skateboard to school, always wear a helmet and ride in the same direction as traffic. Use the far right of the roadway or a bike lane if available. 8. Walk your bike if crossing a street through a crosswalk. Make sure the bicycle is equipped with reflectors and lights, and wear something reflective on clothing, backpack or helmet to improve visibility to drivers. 9. If riding a bus, always cross the street in front of the bus, never behind it, and look both ways before crossing past the bus.