For Immediate Release

August 9, 2023

Contact:
Sergeant Jay Starling
(559) 782-7400
jstarling@ci.porterville.ca.us

August is Back to School Safety Month: Slow Down and Look for Children in School Zones

Porterville, Calif. – As students head back to the classroom, the Porterville Police Department reminds parents and residents to slow down, follow the speed limit, and be extra careful driving through school zones.

“Please drive like it is your child, grandchild, niece or nephew walking or riding their bike to school,” Lieutenant Mark Azevedo said. “Pick-up and drop-off times can be hectic, but it is important to be patient and stay safe as children are getting to and from school. It is better to be slow than be sorry.”

If drivers are behind a school bus with a stop sign and flashing red lights, they need to stop so students can safely get on and off the bus and must remain stopped while the red lights are on. Drivers in both directions must also stop on any two-lane road without a median or a center turn lane.  

The Porterville Police Department offers the following tips to stay safe around schools:

• Slow down and follow the speed limit.
• Adhere to school policies and procedures for dropping off and picking up students.
• Stop for school buses and watch for children rushing to catch the bus or exiting the bus.
• Whenever possible, avoid blocking the crosswalk while waiting to make a right-hand turn.
• For parents with children walking or biking to school, teach them safe walking and riding behaviors, such as looking both ways before crossing the street, using sidewalks, when available, and crossing at marked crosswalks with stop signs or signals.

Share your thoughts about school zones by participating in the Go Safely Movement, a call-to-action traffic safety survey from the California Office of Traffic Safety. Take the survey at gosafelyca.org.