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Greenville City Schools
School Zone Safety
Jeffrey S. Cassell, Director of Administrative Services
You probably have noticed the extra congestion on the roads as school has started for our students in Darke County.
As school begins for many children, increased vehicles on the road and
pedestrian foot traffic on sidewalks boosts the odds of potential
school zone accidents. Drivers not only need to focus on the road ahead
but also the surrounding areas during school hours when unpredictable
children are present and darting across the street and jumping into
buses and cars.
To avoid getting into a school zone accident, follow these six school zone safety driving tips:
1. Never pass a bus from behind. It should be a given since it’s illegal in all 50 states
but never pass a stopped school bus loading and unloading children when
the stop sign is extended and its lights are flashing. Children who
lose their lives in bus-related accidents are most often hit by
motorist illegally passing a stopped bus or by being hit by the bus
itself, according to research conducted by the National Safety Council.
2. Don’t block crosswalks. When at a stop sign or traffic light be sure
to stop at the marked white line on the road before the crosswalk. When
vehicles stop in the crosswalk, it causes pedestrians to go around the
vehicle putting them in the path of moving traffic.
3. Yield when flashing. Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons are one of
the most popular school zone safety solutions communities have been
installing at high-risk intersections. We have put two on Ohio Street
at the K-8 building. Pedestrians always have the right-of-way but
sometimes drivers don’t see them. When the system is flashing, a
pedestrian is actively crossing the road and drivers are required to
yield.
4. Respect the crossing guard. Crossing guards are placed at three
intersections where children are most at risk. Crossing guards protect
every pedestrian using a crosswalk, but only if drivers respect the
guard’s authority and stop when they're directing traffic. Remember, a
crossing guard is always the first person on the street and last person
off. If a guard is still in the road, assume pedestrians are crossing.
5. Reduce your speed. We’ve all seen the school zone speed limit signs,
but how many drivers actually reduce their speed when traveling through
a school zone? The answer is not many. Please abide by the posted speed
sign when students are present. Always assume there are children
present during school hours and obey the posted reduced speed limit
signs. Most states impose heavy fines for speeding within school zones.
6. Don’t drive distracted. Many people drive distracted. When entering
a school zone, rid yourself of all distractions. Children are
notoriously unpredictable and a moment’s delay in reaction time can be
the difference between a near-miss or a deadly collision.
Follow these six school zone safety driving tips to increase pedestrian
safety in our community. But, if there is a high-incident intersection
in our community's school zone that needs extra attention, please give
the district a call at 937-548-3185. We are here to serve you.
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