For Immediate Release

Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017

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

North Reading Police Department Shares Back to School Safety Tips

NORTH READING — As students prepare to return to school, Chief Michael P. Murphy and the North Reading Police Department are recommending some back to school safety tips to the community.

Students in grades one through 12 in the North Reading Public School District will return to class on Wednesday, Sept. 6. Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students begin classes on Friday, Sept. 8.

“Our goal is to have a smooth transition back to school for students, parents and faculty,” Chief Murphy said. “The tips provided are meant to assist in facilitating a stress-free process and help ensure a successful start to the school year.”

With students often on their phones texting, browsing the internet on social media or playing games, the North Reading 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 and always use caution when approaching a stopped school bus. NEVER pass a stopped school bus.

To best ensure that children who travel to school by bus get there safely, 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 fully 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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