For Immediate Release

Friday, Aug. 18, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Wakefield Police Department Offers Back to School Safety Tips

WAKEFIELD — As the new academic year quickly approaches, Chief Rick Smith and the Wakefield Police Department would like to remind community members to consider important ways to stay safe on the first day of school and beyond.

“Our goal is to make the transition back to school as safe and seamless as possible, as more pedestrians and cars are on the roads around schools,” Chief Smith said. “Making sure everyone remains safe is a top priority of ours, and if everyone follows some simple safety protocols, we can ensure a positive start to the new school year.

With students often on their phones texting, browsing the internet or playing games, the Wakefield Police Department recommends that parents talk to their children about following safety tips provided by the National Safety Council (NSC) when headed to and from school:

• Never walk while texting. If you need to respond to a text, move out of the way of others and stop on the sidewalk.
• Never cross the street while using an electronic device.
• Look left, right, then left again before crossing the street.
• Cross only at crosswalks.

Drivers should be on increased alert when traveling through school zones and should NEVER text and drive. Additionally, the NSC reminds operators that:

• In a school zone, when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection.
• Always stop for a crossing guard holding up a stop sign.
• Take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas.
• Do not honk or rev your engine to scare a pedestrian, even if you have the right of way.
• Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.

To best ensure that children who travel to school by bus get their safely, Wakefield Police advise that students follow these tips from the NSC:

Getting on the bus:

• When waiting for the bus, stay away from traffic and avoid roughhousing or other behavior that can lead to carelessness.

• Line up away from the street as the bus approaches.
• Wait until the bus has stopped and the doors open before approaching.

Behavior on the bus:

• If available, always wear your seat belt.
• Don’t put your head, arms or hands out the window.
• Wait for the bus to stop completely before getting up from your seat.

Getting off the bus:

• If you have to cross in front of the bus, walk at least 10 feet ahead until you can see the driver. Make sure the driver can see you too.
• Wait for a signal from the driver before crossing. When the driver signals, look left, right, then left again. Walk across the road and keep an eye out for sudden traffic changes.
• If your vision is blocked, move to an area where you can see other drivers and they can see you.

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