ISP Jasper Post Offering Back-to-School Safety Tips

Since it’s the time of year again when students are going back to school, the Jasper State Police Post is offering some safety tips to help make sure that this school year is safe for everyone.

During this school season, some driving safety tips include:

• ALWAYS watch for stopped school buses in the morning hours and afternoon hours.
• Watch for children walking to and from school and waiting at bus stops.    
• ALWAYS keep your eyes on the road and be patient driving behind school buses. 
• Be on the lookout for school zone signals and ALWAYS obey the speed limits.
• When entering a school zone, be sure to slow down and obey all traffic laws.
• ALWAYS stop for school buses that are loading or unloading children.
• Watch out for school crossing guards and obey their signals.
• Be aware of and watch out for children near schools, bus stops, sidewalks, in the streets, and in school parking lots.
• NEVER pass other vehicles while driving in a school zone.
• NEVER text while driving in a school zone.
• Avoid using a cell phone, unless it is completely hands-free, while driving in a school zone.   

When children are walking to school, it is recommended to:

• Leave home early enough to arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the start of school.
• Use the same route every day and never use shortcuts.
• Go straight home after school and not go anywhere else without permission.
• Always use public sidewalks and streets when walking to school. 
• Try and walk to school with other students. There is strength in numbers.
• Teach your children to recognize and obey traffic signals and signs.
• Only cross streets at designated crosswalks.
• Always look both ways before crossing the street.
• Always walk and never run across intersections.
• Don’t talk to strangers. Teach your children to create distance between themselves and anyone who tries to approach or make contact with them.
• If a stranger does approach your child, make sure they know to immediately report the incident to you or a teacher.
• Teach your children to never get into a vehicle with anyone, even if they know them, without your permission.

For children riding the school bus:

• Make a habit of arriving at the bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled arrival of the bus.
• Make sure your child stays out of the street and avoids excessive horseplay while waiting for the school bus.
• Be sure the bus comes to a complete stop before getting on or off.
• When riding the bus, make sure your child understands they must remain seated and keep their head and arms inside the bus at all times.
• Do not shout or distract the driver.
• Always listen to the instructions of the bus driver.  

And some important tips for student drivers include:

• NO cell phones while driving.
• NO extra passengers.
• NO speeding.
• NO driving or riding without a seatbelt.  

The Indiana State Police would like to note they will have extra patrols during the school hours and will have zero tolerance for those who disregard a bus stop arm or speeding in school zones.