Merced CHP enforcing pedestrian safety in school zones Tuesday. What to expect
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- CHP to conduct school zone safety enforcement in Merced on Tuesday, Aug. 26
- Officers will monitor for speeding, distraction, and seatbelt violations
- Drivers and pedestrians urged to prioritize awareness and follow safety tips
Pedestrian safety in school zones is the focus of a California Highway Patrol enforcement operation scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 26.
CHP will be on the lookout for drivers who are speeding, distracted, and not wearing seatbelts and other violations, according to CHP Public Information Officer Eric Zuniga.
“As we enter the new school year, it’s incredibly important for parents and other community members to slow down near schools,” Merced County Superintendent of Schools Steve Tietjen said in a statement.
Community members requested the event, CHP said in a news release. The overall goal is to improve pedestrian safety in school zones through law enforcement visibility.
Here are some tips to maintain pedestrian safety in school zones:
Drive slower than posted speed limits in school zones, arrive earlier for student drop-offs, and park away from exit gates and walk to pick up their child at the exit gates.
“Schools are always busy with buses and it’s best to not create traffic congestion,” Tietjen said. “All school zones are challenging at drop off and pick up. The best thing to do is to drive to school with patience and courtesy.”
Limit cellphone use while walking. One thing CHP commonly sees is children on their cellphones and other electronic devices while crossing roads, according to Zuniga.
“They assume the driver is going to see them,” Zuniga said. “... I always tell students, when I do my presentations, ‘Make sure you guys always make that eye contact with the driver, that they see you, that they’re aware that you are basically crossing the street.’”
“Don’t assume that just because pedestrians have the right of way, they’re going to stop for you,” he said.
Zuniga’s primary advice for drivers is to obey posted school zone speed limits and not drive distracted.
“Always be aware of your surroundings,” he said. “I always tell people, just because your kids are safe in the vehicle with you, some other kids are walking to school and we want all our children to make it to school safe and sound.”