Partnering with parents for back-to-school traffic safety

It is back-to-school time for Carlsbad's children and the City of Carlsbad Police Department would like to partner with parents for back-to-school safety. Now is the time to review same safety tips with your children. Before they head off to school. Tips:

• Model safe driving habits for your children
  • Slow to 25 miles per hour and be especially alert while driving near a school.
  • Be aware and look for children at intersections, medians and curbs.
  • Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
  • Watch for children on and near the road in the morning and after school hours.
  • Yield to pedestrians.
  • Remove distractions inside your car so you can concentrate solely on the road and your surroundings.
• Remember the basic safety rules
  • Use seat belts, car seats or booster seats for children (https://www.chp.ca.gov/Programs-Services/Programs/Child-Safety-Seats)
  • Always use a crosswalk to cross the street.
  • Watch for to school buses. If the bus is stopped, there probably are children exiting or entering.
• Talk with children about the importance of traffic safety
  • Teach children how to cross the street at corners and in crosswalks.
  • Always use a crossing guard to cross the street, when available.
  • Use safe biking rules, like wearing a helmet and stopping at street corners and stop signs (https://www.chp.ca.gov/programs-services/services-information/bike-and-ped-safety).
  • Caution children not to run into streets or cross in between parked cars.
  • Walk with children to school for the first few days to familiarize them with the route and to point out possible traffic hazards.
  • Talk to your child about what to do if they need to choose a different route.
  • Recall there is safety in numbers and walking to and from school is always safer and more fun with a buddy.
  • Teach children what do if they need help, including how to dial 9-1-1.
• Take an active role in helping teens learn to drive responsibly (https://www.chp.ca.gov/programs-services/programs/youth-programs)
  • Remind teens they are not allowed to have passengers for the first year that they are licensed to drive.
  • Remind teens that texting and talking on the phone while driving is illegal and dangerous.

No matter how your child travels to school, together we can make sure they arrive safely. Have a great school year.

Police media contact
Jodee Reyes, public information officer